VZCZCXYZ0002
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHBU #0736/01 1501313
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 291313Z MAY 08
FM AMEMBASSY BUENOS AIRES
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 1192
INFO RUEHBR/AMEMBASSY BRASILIA 6816
RUEHMN/AMEMBASSY MONTEVIDEO 7123

UNCLAS BUENOS AIRES 000736 
 
DEPARTMENT FOR INL, G/TIP: BARBARA FLECK 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: KCRM KWMN OTRA PHUM SMIG UY AR BR
SUBJECT: ARGENTINA: COUNTRY CLEARANCE FOR AMBASSADOR MARK P. LAGON 
AND BARBARA FLECK, JUNE 18-21, 2008 
 
REF: SECSTATE 55233 
 
¶1. POST WARMLY WELCOMES AMBASSADOR MARK P. LAGON, DIRECTOR OF THE 
OFFICE TO MONITOR AND COMBAT TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS (TIP), AND 
BARBARA FLECK, G/TIP REPORTS AND POLITICAL AFFAIRS OFFICER, WHO WILL 
TRAVEL TO ARGENTINA FROM JUNE 18-21, 2008.  THE PURPOSE OF THE VISIT 
IS TO OBTAIN AN UPDATE ON TIP ISSUES AND PROGRAMS, AND TO MEET WITH 
GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS TO DISCUSS THE 2008 TIP REPORT AND 
ANTI-TRAFFICKING EFFORTS IN-COUNTRY, AND ADVANCE USG 
ANTI-TRAFFICKING OBJECTIVES THROUGH BILATERAL DISCUSSIONS. 
 
¶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. 
 
¶3.  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, 
INTERPRETATION SERVICES 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. 
 
¶4. POST HAS SECURED RESERVATIONS AT THE FOLLOWING HOTEL: 
 
HOTEL EMPERADOR - BUENOS AIRES 
LIBERTADOR 420 
BUENOS AIRES - ARGENTINA 
TEL.: (5411) 4131 - 4004 
FAX: (5411) 4131 - 3910 
DIRECTO: (5411) 4131 - 4007 
GISELLEO@HOTEL-EMPERADOR.COM.AR 
WWW.HOTEL-EMPERADOR.COM.AR 
 
AMBASSADOR MARK LAGON 
CHECK-IN: JUNE 19, 2008 
CHECK-OUT: JUNE 21, 2008 
NIGHTS: 2 
1 NON-SMOKING ROOM 
HOTEL RATE: USD 150.00 + 21% TAXES= USD 181.50 
BREAKFAST IS INCLUDED 
CONFIRMATION: 327118 
 
MS. BARBARA FLECK 
CHECK-IN: JUNE 18, 2008 
CHECK-OUT: JUNE 21, 2008 
NIGHTS: 3 
1 NON-SMOKING ROOM 
HOTEL RATE: USD 150.00 + 21% TAXES= USD 181.50 
BREAKFAST IS INCLUDED 
CONFIRMATION: 327120 
 
CANCELLATIONS ARE PERMITTED AT NO CHARGE 48 HOURS PRIOR TO ARRIVAL, 
AFTER THAT ONE NIGHT WILL BE CHARGED. 
 
POST HAS ALSO SECURED AN INTERPRETER.  THE RATE WILL BE 
APPROXIMATELY $242 USD A DAY WHICH INCLUDES A 21% IVA TAX. 
 
POST WILL PROVIDE MEET AND GREET ASSISTANCE AND TRANSPORTATION 
THROUGHOUT THE AMBASSADOR'S STAY IN ARGENTINA. 
 
¶5. 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. 
 
¶6. 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. 
 
 
¶7. 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. 
 
¶8. EXCHANGE FACILITIES: 
 
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 US 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. 
 
¶9. EMBASSY ACCESS:  STATE DEPARTMENT EMPLOYEES SHOULD BRING THEIR 
STATE ID CARDS/BUILDING PASSES TO BUENOS AIRES TO FACILITATE ACCESS 
TO THE CHANCERY. 
 
¶10. TELEPHONE CALLS: AS REQUESTED ONE CELLPHONE WILL BE PROVIDED 
WITH INTERNATIONAL DIALING ACCESS.  TELEPHONE NUMBER WILL BE AS 
FOLLOWS: 15-4198-8662 
 
¶11. 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 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. 
 
¶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.  VISIT THE EMBASSY BUENOS AIRES CLASSIFIED WEBPAGE AT: 
HTTP://WWW.STATE.SGOV.GOV/P/WHA/BUENOSAIRES 
 
WAYNE