VZCZCXYZ0012
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHBU #0472/01 1051329
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 141329Z APR 08
FM AMEMBASSY BUENOS AIRES
TO RUEHFSI/DIR FSINFATC
INFO RUEHME/AMEMBASSY MEXICO 1549

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BUENOS AIRES 000472 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ECON AMGT AFSI AFSN ETRD AR
 
SUBJECT: ARGENTINA: COUNTRY CLEARANCE FOR FSI ECONOMICS DIVISION 
PROFESSOR LYNDA D. VARGHA 
 
REF: DIRFSINFAT 04010877 
 
¶1. Post warmly welcomes and grants country clearance to FSI 
Economics Division Professor Lynda D. Vargha for the period of April 
19-26, 2008. The purpose of the trip is an orientation to Economic 
Section work and training requirements. 
 
¶2. Embassy Buenos Aires Control Officer will be ECON Officer Ian 
Sheridan , who can be reached at (54-11) 5777-4359. Email is 
Sheridan IM@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:  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: 
 
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. 
 
BUENOS AIR 00000472  002 OF 002 
 
 
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. 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