VZCZCXYZ0001
OO RUEHWEB

DE RUEHSG #0987/01 3121818
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 071818Z NOV 08
FM AMEMBASSY SANTIAGO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 3930
INFO RUEHAC/AMEMBASSY ASUNCION IMMEDIATE 3612
RUEHPE/AMEMBASSY LIMA IMMEDIATE 5782
RUEAHQA/OSAF WASHDC PRIORITY

UNCLAS SANTIAGO 000987 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR H AND RM/F/DFS/FO/AA/CAA 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: OVIP OREP AMGT ASEC AFIN PA PE CI
SUBJECT: CODEL ENGEL VISIT TO CHILE: NOVEMBER 9-11, 2008 
 
REF: STATE 117041 
 
 ¶1.  Embassy Santiago warmly welcomes Representative Eliot 
Engel (D-NY), Chairman of the Subcommittee on the Western 
Hemisphere, House Foreign Affairs Committee, and his 
congressional delegation, from 11/09/2008 to 11/11/2008 as 
requested reftel.  The purpose of the visit is to meet with 
government and non-government officials regarding political 
developments, regional issues and bilateral relations with 
Chile. 
 
¶2.  Control Officer for the visit is Jennifer Spande, 
Political Officer, telephone numbers:  office (56-2) 
330-3395, cell (56-9) 9159-8516, home (56-2) 241-8038, and 
fax (56-2) 330-3118.  Control Officer can be reached 24 hours 
a day via Post 1, telephone (56-2) 330-3321.  During business 
hours it is best to reach the Control Officer via the Embassy 
switchboard (56-2) 330-3000.  Deputy Control Officer is Kerri 
Olsen, Political Officer, telephone numbers:  office (56-2) 
330-3428, cell (56-9) 8888-0775, home (56-2) 233-6839, and 
fax (56-2) 330-3118.  Administrative point of contact is 
Carlos Lopez, (56-2) 330-3377, cell (56-9) 9158-4654.  Point 
of contact for budget and funding is Phil Anstead, (56-2) 
330-3358, cell (56-9) 9139-9097. 
 
¶3.  The Embassy has arranged for vehicles and Embassy 
personnel to meet the delegation at the airport on November 
¶9.  Hotel accommodations have been arranged (11/9/2008 to 
11/11/2008) at the Grand Hyatt Hotel, Av. Presidente Kennedy 
4601, Las Condes, Santiago, telephone (56-2) 950-1234.  The 
daily rate is $170 USD with buffet breakfast included.  The 
hotel will bill without 19 percent value-added tax if 
arrangements are made to be paid in USD and if a U.S. 
passport is presented at the time of check-in.  The hotel 
control room will be staffed by U.S. Embassy personnel and 
equipped with computers, telephones and office supplies for 
the delegation's use. 
 
¶4.  The Embassy, at Representative Engel's request, is 
arranging meetings and will provide a finalized schedule 
directly to the delegation upon arrival.  Embassy will also 
arrange transportation for the delegation's meetings. 
 
¶5.  Per Diem and Cash Exchanges:  Embassy personnel will 
disburse per diem to the delegation in local currency at the 
hotel, the evening of November 9.  Embassy will also provide 
accommodation exchange from 2200 until 2300 on November 9 and 
again from 0630 until 0830 on November 11.  In addition, 
currency exchanges can be made at the hotel front desk.  The 
Embassy has a 24-hour ATM machine, which can access any U.S. 
account served by the local bank.  Currency received will be 
Chilean pesos at the current rate of exchange.  ATMs are 
located conveniently around Santiago and in other 
metropolitan areas in Chile.  Visitors are urged to bring an 
ATM card to Post since this is the most convenient (and many 
times most economical) way to change money. 
 
¶6.  Travelers are reminded that Santiago's Public Affairs 
Section is responsible for handling all in-country press 
arrangements for both Mission personnel and official 
visitors.  Media inquiries or requests for interviews made 
directly to the visitor during the course of a visit should 
be directed to the Embassy Press Attache, Timothy Stater, 
telephone (56-2) 330-3350.  Where contact with the media 
would serve to promote USG interests, Public Affairs will 
work with visitors prior to their arrival to determine the 
desired level or arrangements for contact with the press. 
On-site Public Affairs staff is also available to assist 
visitors and delegations at meetings where media coverage is 
anticipated. 
 
¶7.  Personnel who intend to bring U.S. Government laptops for 
use in CAA or non-CAA areas must notify Post's ISSO and RSO 
in advance of travel.  Personal Electronic Devices (PED), 
Personal Digital Assistant's (PDA) e.g., Blackberries, 
iPhones, 'Palm Pilots', MP-3 players, etc. are NOT authorized 
in CAA spaces and are not authorized connectivity within 
OpenNet unclassified or classified networks, or stand-alone 
classified PC's. 
 
¶8.  The Embassy community has a small commissary/gift shop, 
which is available to official visitors. 
 
¶9.  Travelers with diplomatic or official passports must 
obtain diplomatic or official entry visas through a Chilean 
embassy overseas or CA/PPT/SIA in Washington.  Those with 
tourist passports do not need visas, and may enter on tourist 
cards filled out on the airplane.  Travelers with tourist 
passports are required to pay a one time reciprocity fee of 
$131.00 U.S. dollars each to enter the country. 
 
¶10.  The climate in Chile is temperate, but milder than that 
of Washington.  The seasons in Chile are reversed.  Summer 
(December, January, February) temperatures usually vary 
between 49 degrees (mornings and evenings) and 85 degrees 
during the day; winter (June, July August) temperatures range 
between a minimum of 38 and maximum of 64.  Most 
precipitation occurs during the winter months.  Except for 
the hottest summer nights, evenings tend to be substantially 
cooler than the days. 
 
¶11.  All areas of Santiago are affected by high pollution, 
although the area around the Embassy has slightly better air 
quality than the more congested areas in the city.  The 
pollution appears as heavy smog in the winter and dust in the 
summer.  Pollution levels rise to unacceptable levels an 
average of five to six times per year.  The major health 
effects include difficulties with breathing and aggravation 
of existing respiratory, cardiovascular, allergic and 
asthmatic problems.  This is particularly true for the 
elderly and children, and for those with confirmed asthmatic 
and allergic symptoms.  Contact-lens wearers sometimes find 
their eyes are more easily irritated here.  The most severe 
pollution occurs from May to October. 
 
¶12.  The intensity of the sun is particularly pronounced in 
Santiago.  Travelers should travel with good sunglasses, hats 
and sun block if they anticipate spending much time outdoors. 
 
¶13.  In order to drive a vehicle in Chile, you must have an 
international driver's license.  Failure to adhere to this 
may result in arrest and confiscation of the rental vehicle. 
 
¶14.  After the terrorist attacks of September 11th, there is 
currently a very real possibility for violent actions against 
United States citizens and interests throughout the world. 
Per reftel request, Embassy informs the delegation that its 
overall threat assessment for Chile remains medium.  We urge 
all Embassy visitors to Chile to maintain a high level of 
vigilance and to take appropriate steps to reduce potential 
vulnerability. 
 
¶15.  The Embassy has advised in a Warden message to Americans 
in Chile that extremists in the tri-border area (Brazil, 
ArgQna and Paraguay) may have received instructions in 
mid-October 2000 to begin efforts to collect information on 
U.S. business people and government officials in the southern 
cone of South America.  This information would be used to 
prepare contingency plans for possible kidnappings or attacks 
in the event terrorists strike in the southern cone.  We take 
this information very seriously.  Because of the Embassy's 
special visibility, we urge all personnel to maintain a high 
level of vigilance and to take appropriate steps to reduce 
potential vulnerability. 
 
¶16.  Visitors should be aware of the criminal environment in 
Santiago, which is rated medium for USG employees.  Street 
crime, common to many South American cities, is a problem. 
One should be particularly alert in the business/commercial 
crowded areas.  We recommend visitors: 
 
-- Be attentive to your surroundings -- people, vehicles, 
packages, etc. 
 
-- Maintain a low profile, particularly in busy tourist areas. 
 
-- Vary your routes and times for all required travel. 
 
-- Treat mail or other deliveries from unfamiliar sources 
with suspicion. 
 
-- Be circumspect about information you provide about 
yourself to strangers or in the presence of strangers. 
SIMONS