VZCZCXYZ0001
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHBU #2305/01 3401725
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 061725Z DEC 07
FM AMEMBASSY BUENOS AIRES
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 9857
RUEHC/DEPT OF LABOR WASHINGTON DC
INFO RUCNMER/MERCOSUR COLLECTIVE

UNCLAS BUENOS AIRES 002305 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE PASS TO DEPT OF LABOR 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: OVIP PGOV ELAB AR UY
SUBJECT: COUNTRY CLEARANCE GRANTED FOR SECRETARY OF LABOR ELAINE L. 
CHAO, DECEMBER 9-10, 2007 
 
REF: SECSTATE 162148 
 
     SECSTATE 163927 
 
¶1.  THE AMBASSADOR WARMLY WELCOMES SECRETARY OF LABOR ELAINE L. CHAO 
AND THE DELEGATION SHE WILL LEAD TO REPRESENT THE PRESIDENT OF THE 
UNITED STATES AT THE PRESIDENTIAL INAUGURATION OF CRISTINA KIRCHNER 
AND MEET WITH GOA OFFICIALS.  COUNTRY CLEARANCE IS GRANTED TO ALL 
THE SUPPORT STAFF NAMED IN REFTELS. 
 
¶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. 
 
ADMINISTRATIVE POINT OF CONTACT WILL BE DAN FOOTE: E-MAIL 
FOOTEDL@STATE.GOV, PHONE 54-11-5777-4694 OR 4413. 
 
¶3. POST HAS SECURED RESERVATIONS AT THE FOLLOWING HOTEL: 
 
HOTEL EMPERADOR - BUENOS AIRES 
LIBERTADOR 420(C1001ABR) 
BUENOS AIRES - ARGENTINA 
TEL.: (5411) 4131 - 4000 
FAX: (5411) 4131 - 3910 
 
2 STANDARD ROOMS, DECEMBER 3-11  (9 NIGHTS) 
1 STANDARD ROOM , DECEMBER 6-10 (5 NIGHTS) 
1 DELUXE ROOM, DECEMBER 6-10 (5 NIGHTS) 
4 STANDARD ROOMS, DECEMBER 8-9 (2 NIGHTS) 
1 JR. SUITE  DECEMBER 9 (1 NIGHTS) 
2 DELUXE ROOMS, DECEMBER 8-10 (3 NIGHTS) 
1 JR. SUITE (DECEMBER 9-10 ; 2 NIGHTS)+ 3 ROOMS FOR STATE PROTOCOL 
OFFICERS, DECEMBER 9 (1 NIGHTS) 
1 JR. SUITE FOR CONTROL ROOM, DECEMBER 7-11 (5 NIGHTS) 
 
HOTEL RATE FOR STANDARD ROOM: USD 135.00 + 21% TAX= USD 164.00 
BREAKFAST IS INCLUDED 
HOTEL RATE FOR JR. SUITE:  USD 270 + 21% TAX= USD 327.00 
BREAKFAST IS INCLUDED 
HOTEL RATE FOR DELUXE ROOMS:  USD 175 + 21% TAX= USD  212.00 
 
CANCELLATIONS ARE PERMITTED AT NO CHARGE 48 HOURS PRIOR TO ARRIVAL, 
AFTER THAT ONE NIGHT WILL BE CHARGED. 
 
¶4. 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. 
 
¶5. 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. 
 
 
¶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 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 LARGE 
U.S. CITIES. 
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 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 LARGE U.S. CITIES. 
 
¶7. ACCOMMODATION EXCHANGE WILL BE PROVIDED IN THE CONTROL ROOM AT 
THE HOTEL DURING SET HOURS ON SATURDAY, SUNDAY, AND MONDAY. 
 
¶8. EMBASSY ACCESS:  STATE DEPARTMENT EMPLOYEES SHOULD BRING THEIR 
STATE ID CARDS/BUILDING PASSES TO BUENOS AIRES TO FACILITATE ACCESS 
TO THE CHANCERY. 
 
¶9. DIRECT DIAL TELEPHONE ACCESS WITH INTERNATIONAL DIALING 
CAPABILITY WILL BE AVAILABLE IN THE HOTEL CONTROL ROOM, AND CELL 
PHONES WILL BE DISTRIBUTED PER DEPARTMENT OF LABOR INSTRUCTIONS. 
TELEPHONE NUMBERS WILL BE AS FOLLOWS: (54-11) 
4326-3062,(54-11)4393-3404 AND FAX(54-11) 4393-1282. 
 
¶10.  TWO COMPUTERS EQUIPPED WITH THE FOLLOWING: CD ROM, FLOPPY 
DRIVE, USB PORTS, ONE ROUTER, TWO PRINTERS AND INTERNET ACCESS WILL 
BE AVAILABLE FOR USE IN THE HOTEL CONTROL ROOM.  LAPTOP 
COMPUTERS/DIGITAL CAMERAS/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. 
 
¶11. 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. 
 
¶12. THIS TELEGRAM HAS BEEN CLEARED BY THE CHARGE D'AFFAIRES. 
 
¶13.  VISIT THE EMBASSY BUENOS AIRES WEBPAGE AT: 
HTTP://ARGENTINA.USEMBASSY.GOV 
 
KELLY