CODEL ENGEL VISIT TO CHILE: NOVEMBER 9-11, 2008

UNCLAS SANTIAGO 000987 SIPDIS STATE FOR H AND RM/F/DFS/FO/AA/CAA E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: OVIP OREP AMGT ASEC AFIN PA PE CI SUBJECT: CODEL ENGEL VISIT TO CHILE: NOVEMBER 9-11, 2008 REF: STATE 117041 ¶1. Embassy Santiago warmly welcomes Representative Eliot Engel (D-NY),Chairman of the Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere, House Foreign Affairs Committee, and his congressional delegation, from 11/09/2008 to 11/11/2008 as requested reftel. The purpose of the visit is to meet with government and non-government officials regarding political developments, regional issues and bilateral relations with Chile. ¶2. Control Officer for the visit is Jennifer Spande, Political Officer, telephone numbers: office (56-2) 330-3395, cell (56-9) 9159-8516, home (56-2) 241-8038, and fax (56-2) 330-3118. Control Officer can be reached 24 hours a day via Post 1, telephone (56-2) 330-3321. During business hours it is best to reach the Control Officer via the Embassy switchboard (56-2) 330-3000. Deputy Control Officer is Kerri Olsen, Political Officer, telephone numbers: office (56-2) 330-3428, cell (56-9) 8888-0775, home (56-2) 233-6839, and fax (56-2) 330-3118. Administrative point of contact is Carlos Lopez, (56-2) 330-3377, cell (56-9) 9158-4654. Point of contact for budget and funding is Phil Anstead, (56-2) 330-3358, cell (56-9) 9139-9097. ¶3. The Embassy has arranged for vehicles and Embassy personnel to meet the delegation at the airport on November ¶9. Hotel accommodations have been arranged (11/9/2008 to 11/11/2008) at the Grand Hyatt Hotel, Av. Presidente Kennedy 4601, Las Condes, Santiago, telephone (56-2) 950-1234. The daily rate is $170 USD with buffet breakfast included. The hotel will bill without 19 percent value-added tax if arrangements are made to be paid in USD and if a U.S. passport is presented at the time of check-in. The hotel control room will be staffed by U.S. Embassy personnel and equipped with computers, telephones and office supplies for the delegation's use. ¶4. The Embassy, at Representative Engel's request, is arranging meetings and will provide a finalized schedule directly to the delegation upon arrival. Embassy will also arrange transportation for the delegation's meetings. ¶5. Per Diem and Cash Exchanges: Embassy personnel will disburse per diem to the delegation in local currency at the hotel, the evening of November 9. Embassy will also provide accommodation exchange from 2200 until 2300 on November 9 and again from 0630 until 0830 on November 11. In addition, currency exchanges can be made at the hotel front desk. The Embassy has a 24-hour ATM machine, which can access any U.S. account served by the local bank. Currency received will be Chilean pesos at the current rate of exchange. ATMs are located conveniently around Santiago and in other metropolitan areas in Chile. Visitors are urged to bring an ATM card to Post since this is the most convenient (and many times most economical) way to change money. ¶6. Travelers are reminded that Santiago's Public Affairs Section is responsible for handling all in-country press arrangements for both Mission personnel and official visitors. Media inquiries or requests for interviews made directly to the visitor during the course of a visit should be directed to the Embassy Press Attache, Timothy Stater, telephone (56-2) 330-3350. Where contact with the media would serve to promote USG interests, Public Affairs will work with visitors prior to their arrival to determine the desired level or arrangements for contact with the press. On-site Public Affairs staff is also available to assist visitors and delegations at meetings where media coverage is anticipated. ¶7. Personnel who intend to bring U.S. Government laptops for use in CAA or non-CAA areas must notify Post's ISSO and RSO in advance of travel. Personal Electronic Devices (PED), Personal Digital Assistant's (PDA) e.g., Blackberries, iPhones, 'Palm Pilots', MP-3 players, etc. are NOT authorized in CAA spaces and are not authorized connectivity within OpenNet unclassified or classified networks, or stand-alone classified PC's. ¶8. The Embassy community has a small commissary/gift shop, which is available to official visitors. ¶9. Travelers with diplomatic or official passports must obtain diplomatic or official entry visas through a Chilean embassy overseas or CA/PPT/SIA in Washington. Those with tourist passports do not need visas, and may enter on tourist cards filled out on the airplane. Travelers with tourist passports are required to pay a one time reciprocity fee of $131.00 U.S. dollars each to enter the country. ¶10. The climate in Chile is temperate, but milder than that of Washington. The seasons in Chile are reversed. Summer (December, January, February) temperatures usually vary between 49 degrees (mornings and evenings) and 85 degrees during the day; winter (June, July August) temperatures range between a minimum of 38 and maximum of 64. Most precipitation occurs during the winter months. Except for the hottest summer nights, evenings tend to be substantially cooler than the days. ¶11. All areas of Santiago are affected by high pollution, although the area around the Embassy has slightly better air quality than the more congested areas in the city. The pollution appears as heavy smog in the winter and dust in the summer. Pollution levels rise to unacceptable levels an average of five to six times per year. The major health effects include difficulties with breathing and aggravation of existing respiratory, cardiovascular, allergic and asthmatic problems. This is particularly true for the elderly and children, and for those with confirmed asthmatic and allergic symptoms. Contact-lens wearers sometimes find their eyes are more easily irritated here. The most severe pollution occurs from May to October. ¶12. The intensity of the sun is particularly pronounced in Santiago. Travelers should travel with good sunglasses, hats and sun block if they anticipate spending much time outdoors. ¶13. In order to drive a vehicle in Chile, you must have an international driver's license. Failure to adhere to this may result in arrest and confiscation of the rental vehicle. ¶14. After the terrorist attacks of September 11th, there is currently a very real possibility for violent actions against United States citizens and interests throughout the world. Per reftel request, Embassy informs the delegation that its overall threat assessment for Chile remains medium. We urge all Embassy visitors to Chile to maintain a high level of vigilance and to take appropriate steps to reduce potential vulnerability. ¶15. The Embassy has advised in a Warden message to Americans in Chile that extremists in the tri-border area (Brazil, ArgQna and Paraguay) may have received instructions in mid-October 2000 to begin efforts to collect information on U.S. business people and government officials in the southern cone of South America. This information would be used to prepare contingency plans for possible kidnappings or attacks in the event terrorists strike in the southern cone. We take this information very seriously. Because of the Embassy's special visibility, we urge all personnel to maintain a high level of vigilance and to take appropriate steps to reduce potential vulnerability. ¶16. Visitors should be aware of the criminal environment in Santiago, which is rated medium for USG employees. Street crime, common to many South American cities, is a problem. One should be particularly alert in the business/commercial crowded areas. We recommend visitors: -- Be attentive to your surroundings -- people, vehicles, packages, etc. -- Maintain a low profile, particularly in busy tourist areas. -- Vary your routes and times for all required travel. -- Treat mail or other deliveries from unfamiliar sources with suspicion. -- Be circumspect about information you provide about yourself to strangers or in the presence of strangers. SIMONS