VZCZCXYZ0016
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHBU #2544/01 3182004
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 142004Z NOV 06
FM AMEMBASSY BUENOS AIRES
TO RUCPDOC/USDOC WASHINGTON DC
INFO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 6461

UNCLAS BUENOS AIRES 002544 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR WHA/BSC, OES/SAT 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: KSCA TSPA OTRA AR
SUBJECT: COUNTRY CLEARANCE GRANTED FOR NOAA'S SMITH, CAO 
AND JACKSON TO TRAVEL TO ARGENTINA NOVEMBER 11-16, 2006 
 
REF: USDOC 6204 
 
¶1. Post welcomes and grants country clearance to NOAA's Chief 
of International and Interagency Affairs David Brent Smith, 
Research Physical Scientist Changyong Cao and Communications 
Specialist Nina Jackson to travel to Argentina for the period 
of November 11-16, 2006.  The purpose of the visit is to 
participate in meetings and committees on Earth Observation 
Satellites and Integrated Global Observing Strategy. 
 
¶2. Embassy point of contact will be ESTH Officer Jonathan 
Bayat, who can be reached at (5411) 5777-4747. Email is 
BayatJ@state.gov.  Embassy address: Av. Colombia 4300, 
Embassy phone 54-11-5777-4555; Embassy fax 54-11-5777-4212. 
Embassy hours: 8:45 a.m. to 5:45 p.m. 
 
¶3. Visas: Visitors are reminded that Argentina requires visas 
in U.S. 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. 
 
¶4. Airport tax:  Official visitors holding diplomatic 
passports are exempt from paying the airport tax when 
departing Argentina.  However, holders of official 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. 
 
¶5.  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 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. 
 
¶6. 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. 
 
b.  Crime: Petty street crime in the city of Buenos Aires and 
the immediate suburbs continues to be a problem for residents 
and visitors alike. Burglaries in the more fashionable 
suburbs have been a particular problem.  Visitors to the city 
of Buenos Aires should be aware of problems with hotel 
security (i.e. thefts from room) and pickpockets or purse 
snatching on the streets and public transportation (buses and 
trains).  Pickpockets often work in pairs and employ a 
variety of ruses to victimize the unsuspecting visitor.  In 
recent years, most crime affecting visitors has been 
non-violent; aggravated robberies, shootings, etc., while not 
completely unheard of in the city of Buenos Aires were, 
nonetheless, uncommon.  Recently, however, incidents of armed 
 
 
invasions of restaurants, shops and residences by criminal 
groups are being observed with greater frequency, and as a 
result, it is recommended that due caution be exercised when 
traveling about the city.  However, in general, the crime 
level in Buenos Aires is less severe than in large U.S. 
cities. 
 
¶7. Exchange facilities:  The Argentine peso, which is 
currently exchanged at a floating rate, is the official 
currency.  Traveler's checks may be accepted by hotels but 
are not widely accepted by other businesses or 
establishments.  There is a wide network of ATMs that honors 
U.S. 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. 
 
¶8. Embassy access:  State Department employees should bring 
their State ID cards/building passes to Buenos Aires to 
facilitate access to the Embassy.  If other visitors need 
unescorted access to the Embassy, please provide security 
clearance information in writing via cable or by bringing a 
letter signed by the appropriate authority.  Visitors whose 
clearances have not been verified must be escorted at all 
times in the Embassy. 
 
¶9. Telephone calls: Visitors should bring a fund cite or 
credit card to cover the cost of official international and 
in-country long distance telephone calls.  International 
calling cards are recommended. 
 
¶10. 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 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 
the CAA.  Use of cellular phones outside the CAA is not 
restricted.  It should be noted that if a 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. 
 
¶11. Mandatory personal security training:  All personnel 
requesting country clearance to perform duty for 30 days or 
more at an overseas location must have completed the 
mandatory personal security training ("Serving Abroad for 
Families and Employees" (S.A.F.E.) course) conducted at the 
FSI, prior to their travel. 
 
¶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. We look forward to meeting and working with you. 
 
¶15. To see more Buenos Aires reporting, visit our classified 
website at:  http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/wha/buenosaires.< /a> 
WAYNE