ARGENTINA: COUNTRY CLEARANCE FOR AMBASSADOR MARK P. LAGON

UNCLAS BUENOS AIRES 000736 DEPARTMENT FOR INL, G/TIP: BARBARA FLECK SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KCRM KWMN OTRA PHUM SMIG UY AR BR SUBJECT: ARGENTINA: COUNTRY CLEARANCE FOR AMBASSADOR MARK P. LAGON AND BARBARA FLECK, JUNE 18-21, 2008 REF: SECSTATE 55233 ¶1. POST WARMLY WELCOMES AMBASSADOR MARK P. LAGON, DIRECTOR OF THE OFFICE TO MONITOR AND COMBAT TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS (TIP),AND BARBARA FLECK, G/TIP REPORTS AND POLITICAL AFFAIRS OFFICER, WHO WILL TRAVEL TO ARGENTINA FROM JUNE 18-21, 2008. THE PURPOSE OF THE VISIT IS TO OBTAIN AN UPDATE ON TIP ISSUES AND PROGRAMS, AND TO MEET WITH GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS TO DISCUSS THE 2008 TIP REPORT AND ANTI-TRAFFICKING EFFORTS IN-COUNTRY, AND ADVANCE USG ANTI-TRAFFICKING OBJECTIVES THROUGH BILATERAL DISCUSSIONS. ¶2. CONTROL OFFICER FOR THIS VISIT WILL BE POLITICAL OFFICER HEIDI GOMEZ. EMAIL: GOMEZHN@STATE.GOV; EMBASSY ADDRESS: AV. COLOMBIA ¶4300. EMBASSY PHONE 54-11-5777-4752 OR 4656; EMBASSY FAX 54-11-5777-4234. EMBASSY HOURS: 08:45 AM TO 05:45 PM. ¶3. ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT: A) IF ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT SERVICES ARE NECESSARY, REGARDLESS OF LENGTH OF STAY, THEN THE VISITOR MUST BE ABLE TO PRESENT TO THE FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT OFFICE THEIR TRAVEL AUTHORIZATION (OR ANOTHER FUND CITE) IN ORDER TO PAY FOR DIRECT COSTS OF THE VISIT. EACH AGENCY, ORGANIZATION, OR VISITING DELEGATION WILL BE CHARGED FOR THE ACTUAL COSTS ATTRIBUTED TO THEIR VISIT AND WILL BE ADVISED OF THIS ACTION. DIRECT CHARGE COSTS INCLUDE, BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO: AMERICAN AND LES STAFF OVERTIME, FIELD TRAVEL-LODGING AND M&IE BY EMBASSY EMPLOYEES, VEHICLE RENTALS, LONG DISTANCE TELEPHONE CALLS, EQUIPMENT RENTALS, OFFICE SUPPLIES, INTERPRETATION SERVICES AND ALL OTHER COSTS THAT ARE DIRECTLY ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE VISIT. B) ALSO, FOR TDYERS STAYING OVER THIRTY (30) DAYS, THERE WILL BE A CHARGE FOR ICASS SUPPORT SERVICES. IF YOUR SPONSORING AGENCY IS NOT SIGNED UP FOR ICASS SERVICES AT POST, PLEASE BE PREPARED TO SIGN AN MOU FOR ICASS SUPPORT SERVICES UPON ARRIVAL. THE AGENCY SHOULD PROVIDE POST WITH WRITTEN COMMUNICATION GENERATED BY THE TRAVELER'S HEADQUARTERS THAT CONFIRMS THE AGENCY WILL PAY ICASS CHARGES FOR THE TDYERS, PROVIDE THE AGENCY ICASS BILLING CODE THE TDY SUPPORT CHARGES SHOULD BE APPLIED TO, AND SHOULD AUTHORIZE THE TRAVELER TO SIGN THE ICASS INVOICE GENERATED BY THE TDY MODULE. WHERE TRAVEL IS URGENT, THE TDYERS SHOULD BRING THIS DOCUMENTATION WITH THEM TO ENSURE THERE ARE NO INTERRUPTIONS IN THE PROVISION OF SERVICE. POST WILL NOT PROVIDE ANY SERVICE TO A TDYER STAYING IN EXCESS OF THIRTY DAYS WITHOUT PROVISION OF THIS DOCUMENTATION BEFORE DAY 31 OF THE TDY. ¶4. POST HAS SECURED RESERVATIONS AT THE FOLLOWING HOTEL: HOTEL EMPERADOR - BUENOS AIRES LIBERTADOR 420 BUENOS AIRES - ARGENTINA TEL.: (5411) 4131 - 4004 FAX: (5411) 4131 - 3910 DIRECTO: (5411) 4131 - 4007 GISELLEO@HOTEL-EMPERADOR.COM.AR WWW.HOTEL-EMPERADOR.COM.AR AMBASSADOR MARK LAGON CHECK-IN: JUNE 19, 2008 CHECK-OUT: JUNE 21, 2008 NIGHTS: 2 1 NON-SMOKING ROOM HOTEL RATE: USD 150.00 + 21% TAXES= USD 181.50 BREAKFAST IS INCLUDED CONFIRMATION: 327118 MS. BARBARA FLECK CHECK-IN: JUNE 18, 2008 CHECK-OUT: JUNE 21, 2008 NIGHTS: 3 1 NON-SMOKING ROOM HOTEL RATE: USD 150.00 + 21% TAXES= USD 181.50 BREAKFAST IS INCLUDED CONFIRMATION: 327120 CANCELLATIONS ARE PERMITTED AT NO CHARGE 48 HOURS PRIOR TO ARRIVAL, AFTER THAT ONE NIGHT WILL BE CHARGED. POST HAS ALSO SECURED AN INTERPRETER. THE RATE WILL BE APPROXIMATELY $242 USD A DAY WHICH INCLUDES A 21% IVA TAX. POST WILL PROVIDE MEET AND GREET ASSISTANCE AND TRANSPORTATION THROUGHOUT THE AMBASSADOR'S STAY IN ARGENTINA. ¶5. VISAS: VISITORS ARE REMINDED THAT ARGENTINA REQUIRES VISAS IN US DIPLOMATIC AND OFFICIAL PASSPORTS FOR OFFICIAL TRAVEL. PERSONS TRAVELING ON OFFICIAL BUSINESS AND CARRYING DIPLOMATIC OR OFFICIAL PASSPORTS WHO ARRIVE WITHOUT A VALID VISA MAY BE DENIED ENTRY AND SENT BACK TO POINT OF ORIGIN. THE EMBASSY IS UNABLE TO SECURE ENTRY OF TRAVELERS WHO ARRIVE WITHOUT VISAS. ¶6. AIRPORT TAX: OFFICIAL VISITORS, HOLDING DIPLOMATIC OR REGULAR PASSPORTS, ARE REQUIRED TO PAY THE AIRPORT TAX. FOR INTERNATIONAL FLIGHTS, THE TAX IS US $18 PER PASSENGER (VAT-EXEMPT) OR PESO EQUIVALENT, PAYABLE IN CASH, WITH TRAVELER'S CHECKS OR CREDIT CARDS. ¶7. THREAT ASSESSMENT: ¶A. POLITICAL VIOLENCE/TERRORISM: LIAISON WITH HOST GOVERNMENT POLICE AND SECURITY FORCES INDICATE THERE IS LITTLE THREAT TO U.S. CITIZENS (OFFICIAL VISITORS, BUSINESS VISITORS, TOURISTS) FROM INDIGENOUS TERRORIST ORGANIZATIONS IN ARGENTINA. THERE ARE NO VIOLENT DOMESTIC GROUPS CURRENTLY ACTIVE IN THIS COUNTRY THAT ARE SPECIFICALLY TARGETING U.S. INTERESTS. HOWEVER, GIVEN THE PRESENCE OF MEMBERS OF AND SUPPORT FOR EXTREMIST INTERNATIONAL TERRORIST GROUPS SUCH AS HIZBOLLAH IN THE TRI-BORDER REGION OF ARGENTINA (MISIONES PROVINCE),VISITORS HERE CANNOT DISCOUNT THE POSSIBILITY OF TERRORIST ACTIVITY, TO INCLUDE RANDOM ACTS OF ANTI-AMERICAN VIOLENCE. ¶8. EXCHANGE FACILITIES: THE ARGENTINE PESO, WHICH IS CURRENTLY EXCHANGED AT A FLOATING RATE, IS THE OFFICIAL CURRENCY. TRAVELERS CHECKS MAY BE ACCEPTED BY HOTELS BUT ARE NOT WIDELY ACCEPTED BY OTHER BUSINESSES OR ESTABLISHMENTS. THERE IS A WIDE NETWORK OF ATMS THAT HONOR US ISSUED ATM/DEBIT/CREDIT CARDS ISSUING FUNDS IN PESOS. TRAVELERS ARE REMINDED TO EXERCISE THE SAME CAUTION WHEN USING AN ATM AS ONE WOULD IN THE UNITED STATES. ¶9. EMBASSY ACCESS: STATE DEPARTMENT EMPLOYEES SHOULD BRING THEIR STATE ID CARDS/BUILDING PASSES TO BUENOS AIRES TO FACILITATE ACCESS TO THE CHANCERY. ¶10. TELEPHONE CALLS: AS REQUESTED ONE CELLPHONE WILL BE PROVIDED WITH INTERNATIONAL DIALING ACCESS. TELEPHONE NUMBER WILL BE AS FOLLOWS: 15-4198-8662 ¶11. LAPTOP COMPUTERS/DIGITAL CAMERAS: LAPTOPS/PALM PILOTS, CELLULAR PHONES AND OTHER ELECTRONIC DEVICES MAY NOT BE BROUGHT INTO THE EMBASSY WITHOUT THE PRIOR APPROVAL OF THE REGIONAL SECURITY OFFICE. PERSONALLY OWNED LAPTOPS/PALM PILOTS MAY NOT/NOT BE USED IN THE EMBASSY. USG-OWNED LAPTOPS MAY ONLY BE USED IN CONTROLLED ACCESS AREAS (CAA) IF THE USER CERTIFIES THAT THE COMPUTER HAS BEEN CONTINUOUSLY UNDER THE PERSONAL CONTROL OF A CLEARED AMERICAN THROUGHOUT TRANSIT. IF THIS REQUIREMENT IS NOT MET, THE LAPTOP CAN ONLY BE USED OUTSIDE OF THE CAA. USG-OWNED PALM PILOTS ARE UNDER THE SAME RESTRICTIONS AS CELLULAR PHONES AND OTHER ELECTRONIC DEVICES, AND MAY NOT BE UTILIZED WITHIN THE CAA. AT THE EMBASSY, ALL USG ISSUED OR PERSONAL CELLULAR PHONES MUST BE LEFT OUTSIDE OF THE CAA. USE OF CELLULAR PHONES OUTSIDE OF THE CAA IS NOT RESTRICTED. IT SHOULD BE NOTED THAT IF TRAVELER IS BRINGING A CELLULAR PHONE INTO THE COUNTRY, ARGENTINE LAW REQUIRES THE TRAVELER TO DECLARE THE PHONE, INCLUDING ITS VALUE, WHEN FILLING OUT THE CUSTOMS AND IMMIGRATION DECLARATION FORM. ¶12. FOR FURTHER GENERAL INFORMATION REGARDING TRAVEL TO ARGENTINA, TRAVELERS SHOULD CONSULT THE DEPARTMENT OF STATE INTERNET SITE AT HTTP://TRAVEL.STATE.GOV/, WHICH INCLUDES THE LATEST CONSULAR INFORMATION SHEET FOR ARGENTINA. ¶13. THIS TELEGRAM HAS BEEN CLEARED BY THE DEPUTY CHIEF OF MISSION. ¶14. VISIT THE EMBASSY BUENOS AIRES CLASSIFIED WEBPAGE AT: HTTP://WWW.STATE.SGOV.GOV/P/WHA/BUENOSAIRES WAYNE