INDEPENDENT NEWS

Cablegate: Country Clearance for Staffdel Meacham, Mexico

Published: Tue 6 Nov 2007 04:44 PM
VZCZCXRO9411
RR RUEHCD RUEHGD RUEHHO RUEHMC RUEHNG RUEHNL RUEHRD RUEHRS RUEHTM
DE RUEHME #5733 3101644
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 061644Z NOV 07
FM AMEMBASSY MEXICO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 9459
INFO RUEHXC/ALL US CONSULATES IN MEXICO COLLECTIVE
UNCLAS MEXICO 005733
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR H AND RM/F/DFS/FO/AA/CAA
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OREP AMGT ASEC AFIN MX
SUBJECT: COUNTRY CLEARANCE FOR STAFFDEL MEACHAM, MEXICO
CITY, 6-8 NOVEMBER 2007
REF: STATE 152036
1. Post warmly welcomes and grants country clearance to Mr.
Carl Meacham for travel to Mexico City from 6-8 November 2007.
2. Post control officer for the visit is Deputy Political
Counselor Jim Merz, telephone 52 (55) 5080-2265 or 4425;
fax 52 (55) 5080-2247; cell 044 (55) 5080-2247; e-mail
merzjp@state.gov. The Embassy switchboard is
011-52-55-5080-2000. Mr. Merz can also be reached in his
home phone by dialing the Embassy switchboard.
3. Control officer and Embassy airport facilitator will be
at the airport to meet Mr. Meacham.
4. Hotel reservations:
- Sheraton Maria Isabel (next to the Embassy)
Paseo de la Reforma 325, Col. Cuauhtemoc
Telephone: 011-52-55-5242-5555
Confirmation Number: 846423055
Embassy rate of $193.05/per night
(includes continental breakfast)
Credit card information provided to Sheraton
5. Costs report will be provided via a separate cable as
requested on paragraph 8 of SS152036.
6. The Department of State has designated Mexico City as a
critical threat post due to the high level of crime and the
ineffectiveness and corruption of Mexican law enforcement.
Robberies at gunpoint, pick pocketing, purse snatching,
taxicab abductions and quick-kidnappings continue to cause us
concern. Any hotel selected for you by the embassy will be
safe, but it is still wise to store all valuables in a room
safe or in a safe deposit box. Leaving expensive-looking
jewelry at home and wearing a plastic watch will
significantly improve your security profile. The Embassy
cautions travelers that they should never hail a cruising
taxi (or "libre" taxi) but should instead use
airport-sanctioned taxis, taxis operating from fixed sites
("sitios), or a cab called for you by your hotel.
7. Mexico does have health concerns. You should take normal
tourist precautions with regard to drinking water, eating
fresh fruits, vegetables and salads. Some employees react to
the pollution and high altitude; so take things slowly at
first. Travelers to Mexico City may require some time to
adjust to the altitude (7000 ft.), which can adversely affect
blood pressure, digestion, sleep, and energy level.
Individuals with sickle cell trait should consult with the
appropriate medical unit or their personal physician before
commencing with travel. Short-term (TDY) assignments carry
an added risk because of the lack of time to acclimatize.
Dehydration, stress, or illnesses compound the basic risks of
high altitude.
8. We encourage you to access further security and health
related information as well as post access regulations for
the region you are visiting at the Mission Mexico intranet
homepage at http://mexicocity.state.gov/IntraMissMex.html or
http://www.usembassy-mexico.gov.
Visit Mexico City's Classified Web Site at
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/wha/mexicocity and the North American
Partnership Blog at http://www.intelink.gov/communities/state/nap /
GARZA
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