This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 SAN SALVADOR 000154 
 
SIPDIS 
 
FOR USDA/FAS/AGRICULTURAL COUNSELOR 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: OTRA EAGR AMGT ASEC ES COUNTRY CLEARANCE
SUBJECT: FAS COUNTRY CLEARANCE FOR STEPHEN HUETE, KARLA TAY, 
EDITH VASQUEZ, MERCEDES CRUZ AND JOSE FOLGAR 
 
REF: GUATEMALA 00101 
 
¶1. Post grants country clearance for Stephen Huete, Ag. 
Counselor, Karla Tay, Ag Specialist, Edith Vasquez, 
Marketing Assistant, Mercedes Cruz, Administrative Assistant 
and Jose Folgar, Clerk/Driver, to travel to San Salvador 
during the period of January 23-26, 2006 for the purpose of 
attending the Central American Marketing Conference. 
Travelers will be arriving by land in official vehicle, 
Dodge Durango, plates CD-1296, color silver, and private 
vehicle Honda CRV, plates CD-84BBD color silver. Control 
Officer for this visit is Miguel Herrera, Agricultural 
Specialist, Embassy phone number (503) 2278-4444, ext. 1412. 
 
¶2. Clearances:  Post acknowledges Mr. Stephen Huete has a 
Top Secret Security Clearance. Karla Tay, Edith Vasquez, 
Mercedes Cruz and Jose Folgar DO NOT have security 
clearance. 
 
TDY visitors under COM authority who will be in-country more 
than ten working days are required to receive a security 
briefing by the Regional Security Office.  Your sponsor will 
provide you with the date and time of your briefing. 
 
¶3. Accommodations.  Hotel reservations have been made at the 
Decameron Salinitas Hotel (Jan 23-24) in Sonsonate, El 
Salvador, phones (503) 2429-9004, (503) 2429-9000. Room rate 
is $78.80 (without IVA). Per diem in San Salvador is 
presently lodging Dollars 113.00, and M&IE Dollars 78.00 - 
total Dollars 191. In-country Per diem is presently lodging 
Dollars 59.00, and M&IE Dollars 32.00 - total Dollars $91. 
The hotel accepts Visa, American Express and MasterCard for 
payment. Legal currency in El Salvador is U.S. Dollar. 
 
 
¶4. Administrative Support Services (ICASS) for TDY/Visitors: 
Action Request: 
(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 (e.g., expediter, 
accommodation exchange, representational event support), 
field travel-lodging and M&IE by Embassy employees, vehicle 
rentals, long distance telephone calls, equipment rentals, 
office supplies and all other costs that are directly 
attributable to the visit. 
 
(b) Also, for TDYers over thirty (30) days, there is a 
charge for ICASS support services.  If your sponsoring 
agency is not signed up for ICASS services at post, please 
be prepared to sign a MOU for ICASS support services upon 
arrival.  The agency should provide post with a 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 authorizes 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. 
 
¶5. Airport transportation services. The Embassy will provide 
airport/hotel transportation if requested. The Embassy 
charges $35.00 per one-way trip with expediter. Personnel 
who wish this service at their arrival must provide a fund 
cite prior to their arrival. The airport transportation fees 
for departures can be paid by fund cite or at the Embassy 
cashier prior to departure. A receipt will be provided. 
 
(a) Taxis. GSO and the Princess Hotel recommend ACACYA 
taxis. This company provides 24/7 services throughout San 
Salvador.  They provide a/c sedans and/or vans upon request. 
This company operates a Kiosk at the airport (located at the 
meet/greet lobby of the terminal, outside of the passenger's 
exit), tel. numbers (503) 2339-9282 or (503)2339-9271 and 
from Hotel Princess (503) 2298-4545 (EXT. 2540).  The 
company will accept reservations via their e-mail address - 
acacya_es@yahoo.es. The following charges are levied from 
the following areas: Urban areas within San Salvador to the 
international airport $20.00. Embassy area (Santa Elena)/ 
International Airport $21.00 
 
(b) Hotels airport shuttle service.  The following hotels 
have airport shuttle service either free or charging fees 
ranging between $7.00 and $10.00 per one-way trip 
exclusively for their guests with confirmed reservations: 
- Radisson 
- Princess Hotel 
- Holiday Inn Hotel 
- Presidente San Salvador Hotel 
- Real Intercontinental 
 
(c) Transporte Express. This company provides services 
throughout San Salvador.  They provide minivans or 15 person 
vans upon request. Telephone numbers are (503)2252-9400 or 
(503) 2252-9401. The company offers transfers to the airport 
for $30.00 each way for minivans and $35.00 for the larger 
vans. They will also "meet and greet" at the airport upon 
arrival. Additionally, they offer hourly rates (3 hour 
minimum) for shopping or sightseeing excursions. Their web 
site is: www.transporte-express.com 
 
¶6.  Laptop Policy. TDY employees requiring connectivity for 
their properly configured State Department equipment should 
include the request in their Country Clearance Request 
cable.  The traveler will be instructed to hand carry the 
equipment, never allow it to leave his or her possession, 
and to bring it directly to the Embassy upon arrival in the 
country.  Alternatively, the equipment may be sent via 
secure Classified Pouch prior to the visit. No device is 
permitted to be connected to a State Department computer or 
network without the prior approval from the Information 
Management Officer (IMO).  Approval will be based on the 
type of device and associated security risks, and whether 
the equipment and configuration have been approved by the 
State Department Information Technology Change Control Board 
(ITCCB), including up-to-date virus protection for PCs. 
Laptops will not be allowed onto the compound without prior 
written permission from the RSO office. 
 
¶7. Following pertinent information addresses the most 
frequently asked questions concerning travel to El Salvador. 
Country clearance is required for all personnel entering El 
Salvador. USG personnel entering with diplomatic or official 
passports must have a valid Salvadoran visa or purchase a 
tourist card. Tourist cards valid for 90 days are available 
for a fee of USD 10.00 and may be purchased upon arrival at 
El Salvador airport or any land border crossing. The 
departure fee via commercial airlines is USD 27.00. Bearers 
of diplomatic passports are exempt. 
 
¶8. Security information: the threat against Americans from 
political activity is considered low.  The threat from 
criminal elements is critical.  Random, violent crime is 
endemic throughout the country.  Armed street robberies, 
carjacking, kidnapping for ransom, sexual assaults and 
residential burglaries threaten every person in the country. 
US Citizen or official travelers have not been singled out, 
but are subject to the same threat as all other persons in 
El Salvador.  If travelers are not being met by Embassy 
personnel or taking the airport shuttle, then they should 
schedule their flights to arrive during daylight hours in 
order to get into San Salvador before nightfall.  Traveling 
on the roads after dusk is dangerous for security and 
traffic safety reasons. 
 
¶9. Precautions:  though all areas of the country are on 
limits, travelers need to be aware that the downtown area of 
San Salvador, along with other urban areas in the country, 
are significantly less safe than the west side of the 
capital.  Travel to rural areas should be undertaken with 
caution and scheduled so as to arrive in San Salvador or 
another major city by dark.  Mountain roads and poorly 
maintained vehicles are a danger to travelers.  Highway 
robberies and other violence are real threats.  Public 
transportation, especially buses, both within and outside 
the capital is risky and is not recommended. Use radio 
dispatched taxis or those stationed in front of your hotel. 
 
¶10. Contact with local media: the Ambassador has charged the 
Office of Public Affairs with reviewing and managing public 
diplomacy activities on behalf of the entire Embassy. All 
official visitors must coordinate participation in any 
public event with the Public Affairs Officer or Information 
Officer in advance. This requirement applies to interviews 
with radio, television and print media as well as to public 
speeches. 
 
¶11. Health issues: 
--Food: Visitors to El Salvador are at risk for 
gastrointestinal illnesses.  Pay careful attention to the 
choice of food and beverages. Most well known restaurants 
are considered safe. 
--Drink: Bottled drinks are considered safe.  Tap water is 
not considered potable. 
--Infectious diseases: All persons traveling in El Salvador, 
even for a brief visit, are at risk of contracting dengue. 
Reduce contact with mosquitoes to reduce risk of dengue. 
--Immunizations: No additional immunizations are required. 
Immunizations for hepatitis A, hepatitis B, and typhoid 
reduce the risk of contracting these diseases. Short-term 
visitors who adhere to good hygiene measures and follow 
recommendations concerning food and water consumption have a 
minimal chance of exposure.  Tetanus immunization should be 
updated.  Because rabies is endemic in El Salvador, visitors 
should avoid contact with animals whose immunization status 
is unknown. 
--Automobile safety: Automobile accidents are among the most 
common causes of serious injury. Avoid driving at night. Use 
seat belts. 
--Emergency medical services: Emergency medical care is 
limited in El Salvador. The health unit keeps an up-to-date 
list of available health facilities in San Salvador. 
Travelers should arrange for medical evacuation insurance 
either personally or through their sponsoring agency prior 
to their arrival. 
 
¶12. All U.S. Government funded travelers are reminded to 
utilize U.S. airlines whenever possible. 
 
¶13. If any questions or concerns regarding security matters, 
please contact the U.S. Embassy telephone number (503) 2278- 
4444, RSO: ext. 2262. 
 
BARCLAY