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courage is contagious

Viewing cable 08BUENOSAIRES174, ARGENTINA: CODEL ENGEL, FEBRUARY 20-23, 2008

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Reference ID Created Released Classification Origin
08BUENOSAIRES174 2008-02-14 12:41 2011-05-02 00:00 UNCLASSIFIED Embassy Buenos Aires
VZCZCXYZ0001
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHBU #0174/01 0451241
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 141241Z FEB 08
FM AMEMBASSY BUENOS AIRES
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0245
INFO RUEHQT/AMEMBASSY QUITO 1043
RUEHLP/AMEMBASSY LA PAZ 5095
UNCLAS BUENOS AIRES 000174 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPARTMENT FOR H, PATRICIA DIGGS 
DEPARTMENT FOR RM/F/DFS/FO/AA/CAA 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: OREP AFIN AMGT ASEC AR EC BL
SUBJECT: ARGENTINA: CODEL ENGEL, FEBRUARY 20-23, 2008 
 
REF: SECSTATE 14118 
 
1. THE AMBASSADOR WARMLY WELCOMES REPRESENTATIVE ELIOT ENGEL AND THE 
DELEGATION HE WILL LEAD.  THE PURPOSE OF THE TRIP IS TO MEET WITH 
LEADING ARGENTINE GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS, LEGISLATORS, AND 
REPRESENTATIVES OF CIVIL SOCIETY ORGANIZATIONS. 
 
2. CONTROL OFFICER WILL BE POLITICAL OFFICER DAVID ALARID. 
EMAIL: ALARIDDA@STATE.GOV. EMBASSY ADDRESS: AV. COLOMBIA 4300; CELL 
PHONE: 15-5060-9954; EMBASSY PHONE 54-11-5777-4656 OR 4858; EMBASSY 
FAX 54-11-5777-4234. EMBASSY HOURS: 08:45 AM TO 05:45 PM. 
 
ADMINISTRATIVE POINT OF CONTACT WILL BE PEDRO CRUZ: E-MAIL 
CRUZP@STATE.GOV, PHONE 54-11-5777-4291 OR 4421. 
 
3. POST HAS SECURED RESERVATIONS AT THE FOLLOWING HOTEL: 
 
MARRIOTT PLAZA HOTEL 
FLORIDA 1005 
BUENOS AIRES 
C1005AAU ARGENTINA 
PHONE:  54 11 4318 3000 
FAX:  54 11 4318 3008 
ARRIVAL DATE: FEBRUARY 20, 2008 
DEPARTURE DATE: FEBRUARY 23, 2008 
NIGHTS: 3 
 
17 STANDARD NON-SMOKING ROOMS AND 1 SUITE (FOR THE CONTROL ROOM) 
HOTEL RATE FOR STANDARD ROOM: USD 150.00 + 21% TAXES= USD 182.00 
BREAKFAST IS INCLUDED.  HOTEL RATE FOR SUITE IS USD 278.00 (FOR FOUR 
NIGHTS)+ 21%= 1,348 USD.  CANCELLATION POLICY IS AS FOLLOWS: FROM 
FEBRUARY 13, 2008 IF MORE THAN 2 ROOMS ARE CANCELLED THE HOTEL WILL 
CHARGE 100 % OF THE TOTAL ROOM REVENUE. POST WILL PROVIDE MEET AND 
GREET ASSISTANCE, TRANSPORTATION AND AN INTERPRETER THROUGHOUT THE 
CODEL'S STAY IN ARGENTINA. 
 
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 WEDNESDAY AND SATURDAY. 
 
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.  THREE COMPUTERS EQUIPPED WITH INTERNET CONNECTION AND PRINTERS, 
ONE FAX MACHINE, ONE COPIER AND ONE DIRECT DIAL INTERNATIONAL 
TELEPHONE LINE WILL BE AVAILABLE 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 DEPUTY CHIEF OF MISSION. 
 
13.  VISIT THE EMBASSY BUENOS AIRES CLASSIFIED WEBPAGE AT: 
HTTP://WWW.STATE.SGOV.GOV/P/WHA/BUENOSAIRES 
 
WAYNE