VZCZCXYZ0021
OO RUEHWEB

DE RUEHBU #0307/01 0701813
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 101813Z MAR 08
FM AMEMBASSY BUENOS AIRES
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 0428
INFO RUEHUJA/AMEMBASSY ABUJA 0018
RUEHBP/AMEMBASSY BAMAKO 0002
RUEHSA/AMEMBASSY PRETORIA 0176
RUEHWD/AMEMBASSY WINDHOEK 0002
RUEHYD/AMEMBASSY YAOUNDE 0013
RUEHTN/AMCONSUL CAPE TOWN 0008

UNCLAS BUENOS AIRES 000307 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPARTMENT FOR H AND RM/F/DFS/FO/AA/CAA 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM PTER SNAR ECON EFIN BEXP AR
SUBJECT: ARGENTINA: COUNTRY CLEARANCE FOR CODEL SHELBY 
 
REF: STATE 22705 
 
¶1. Post warmly welcomes and grants country clearance to Ambassador 
Richard Shelby and members of his delegation to travel to Argentina 
for the period March 23-26, 2008.  The purpose of the visit is to 
have bilateral discussions with senior Argentine government 
officials on a range of financial, economic, trade, and security 
issues.  Post will provide meet and greet assistance at airport 
March 23 and transportation throughout the visit.  Agenda and 
administrative details are being coordinated with Army Legislative 
Liaison LTC Craig Greene.  Post would appreciate receiving details 
of security clearances held by members of the traveling party. 
 
¶2. Embassy point of contact will be ECON Counselor Doug Climan, who 
can be reached at (5411) 5777-4747, direct line 5777-4609.  Email is 
ClimanDP@state.gov. Cell phone 15-6-602-7329.  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:  All American visitors, including those holding 
official or diplomatic passports are required to pay the airport tax 
when departing Argentina.  For international flights, the tax is 
US$18 per passenger (VAT-exempt) or peso equivalent, payable in 
cash. 
 
¶5.  Administrative support:  We have received Codel fund cite 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. 
 
¶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:Post will provide Codel members 
accommodation exchange at Codel hotel site.  The Argentine Peso, 
which is currently exchanged at a floating rate, is the official 
currency.Travelers checks may be accepted by hotels but are not 
widely accepted by other businesses or establishments.There is a 
wide network of ATMs that honor 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.There 
is a bank providing exchange services inside the Embassy, as well as 
an ATM.Please note that ATMs in Argentina limit the amount taken 
per withdrawal to 300-350 pesos or approximately USD $95-$110; 
however, you may take out multiple withdrawals in a single day up to 
the limit set by the bank issuing your ATM card. 
 
¶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. We look forward to meeting and working with you. 
 
¶14. To see more Buenos Aires reporting, visit our classified website 
at:  http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/wha/buenosaires.< /a> 
 
WAYNE