PARAGUAY

Compiled from the December 2005 Background Note and supplemented with additional information from the State Department and the editors of this volume. See the introduction to this set for explanatory notes.

Official Name:
Republic of Paraguay

PROFILE

Geography

Area:

406,752 sq. km. (157,047 sq. mi.); about the size of California.

Cities:

Capital—Asuncion (pop. 539,000). Other cities—Ciudad del Este, Concepción, Encarnación, Pedro Juan Caballero, Coronel Oviedo.

Terrain:

East of the Paraguay River—grassy plains, wooded hills, tropical forests; west of the Paraguay River (Chaco region)—low, flat, marshy plain.

Climate:

Temperate east of the Paraguay River, semiarid to the west.

People

Nationality:

Noun and adjective—Paraguayan(s).

Population (2004 est.):

6,191,368.

Annual population Growth rate:

2.3% (projected 1999-2015, UNDP).

Ethnic groups:

Mixed Spanish and Indian descent (mestizo) 95%.

Religion:

Roman Catholic 90%; Mennonite and other Protestant denominations.

Language:

Spanish (language of business and government), Guarani (spoken and understood by 90% of the population).

Education:

Years compulsory—9. Attendance—92%. Literacy—94%. (UNICEF)

Health:

Infant mortality rate—27/1,000. Life expectancy—72 years male; 77 years female.

Work force (2002, 2.5 million):

Agriculture—45%; industry and commerce—31%; services—19%; government—4%.

Government

Type:

Constitutional Republic.

Independence:

May 1811.

Constitution:

June 1992.

Branches:

Executive—President. Legislative—Senate and Chamber of Deputies. Judicial—Supreme Court of Justice.

Administrative subdivisions:

17 departments, 1 capital city.

Political parties:

National Republican Association/Colorado Party (ANR), Authentic Radical Liberal Party (PLRA), Beloved Fatherland (PQ), National Union of Ethical Citizens (UNACE), National Encounter Party (PEN), The Country in Solidarity Party (PPS), and numerous small parties not represented in Congress.

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal and compulsory by law up to age 75.

Economy

(2004 Central Bank data)

GDP:

$7.98 billion.

Annual growth rate (2004):

3.9%.

Per capita GDP:

$1,173.

Natural resources:

Hydroelectric sites, forests.

Agriculture (24.1% of GDP):

Products—soybeans, cotton, beef, cereals, sugarcane.

Arable land:

9 million hectares, of which 30% is in production.

Manufacturing (14.5% of GDP):

Types—sugar, cement, textiles, beverages, wood products.

Trade (2004):

Exports—$1.62 billion: soybeans, soybean flour, cotton, meat, wood, animal hides, vegetable oil, tobacco, and sugar. Major markets—Uruguay (27.75%), Brazil (19.22%). Imports—$2.65 billion: fuels and lubricants, machinery, electric materials, transportation and accessories, industrial chemicals, fertilizers, plastics and manufactures, paper and manufactures. Major suppliers—Brazil (30.97%), Argentina (23.38%).

PEOPLE

Paraguay's population is distributed unevenly throughout the country. The vast majority of the people live in the eastern region, most within 160 kilometers (100 mi.) of Asuncion, the capital and largest city. The Chaco, which accounts for about 60% of the territory, is home to less than 2% of the population. Ethnically, culturally, and socially, Paraguay has one of the most homogeneous populations in South America. About 95% of the people are of mixed Spanish and Guarani Indian descent. Little trace is left of the original Guarani culture except the language, which is understood by 90% of the population. About 75% of all Paraguayans speak Spanish. Guarani and Spanish are official languages. Brazilians, Argentines, Germans, Arabs, Koreans, Chinese, and Japanese are among those who have settled in Paraguay with Brazilians representing the largest number.

HISTORY

Pre-Columbian civilization in the fertile, wooded region that is now Paraguay consisted of numerous seminomadic, Guarani-speaking tribes, who were recognized for their fierce warrior traditions. They practiced a mythical polytheistic religion, which later blended with Christianity. Spanish explorer Juan de Salazar founded Asuncion on the Feast Day of the Assumption, August 15, 1537. The city eventually became the center of a Spanish colonial province. Paraguay declared its independence by overthrowing the local Spanish authorities in May 1811.

The country's formative years saw three strong leaders who established the tradition of personal rule that lasted until 1989: Jose Gaspar Rodriguez de Francia, Carlos Antonio Lopez, and his son, Francisco Solano Lopez. The younger Lopez waged a war against Argentina, Uruguay, and Brazil (War of the Triple Alliance, 1864-70) in which Paraguay lost half its population; afterward, Brazilian troops occupied the country until 1874. A succession of presidents governed Paraguay under the banner of the Colorado Party from 1880 until 1904, when the Liberal party seized control, ruling with only a brief interruption until 1940.

In the 1930s and 1940s, Paraguayan politics were defined by the Chaco war against Bolivia, a civil war, dictatorships, and periods of extreme political instability. Gen. Alfredo Stroessner took power in May 1954. Elected to complete the unexpired term of his predecessor, he was reelected president seven times, ruling almost continuously under the state-of-siege provision of the constitution with support from the military and the Colorado Party. During Stroessner's 35-year reign, political freedoms were severely limited, and opponents of the regime were systematically harassed and persecuted in the name of national security and anticommunism. Though a 1967 constitution gave dubious legitimacy to Stroessner's control, Paraguay became progressively isolated from the world community.

On February 3, 1989, Stroessner was overthrown in a military coup headed by Gen. Andres Rodriguez. Rodriguez, as the Colorado Party candidate, easily won the presidency in elections held that May, and the Colorado Party dominated the Congress. In 1991 municipal elections, however, opposition candidates won several major urban centers, including Asuncion. As president, Rodriguez instituted political, legal, and economic reforms and initiated a rapprochement with the international community.

The June 1992 constitution established a democratic system of government and dramatically improved protection of fundamental rights. In May 1993, Colorado Party candidate Juan Carlos Wasmosy was elected as Paraguay's first civilian president in almost 40 years in what international observers deemed fair and free elections. The newly elected majority-opposition Congress quickly demonstrated its independence from the executive by rescinding legislation passed by the previous Colorado-dominated Congress. With support from the United States, the Organization of American States, and other countries in the region, the Paraguayan people rejected an April 1996 attempt by then-Army Chief Gen. Lino Oviedo to oust President Wasmosy, taking an important step to strengthen democracy.

Oviedo became the Colorado candidate for president in the 1998 election, but when the Supreme Court upheld in April his conviction on charges related to the 1996 coup attempt, he was not allowed to run and remained in confinement. His running mate, Raul Cubas Grau, became the Colorado Party's candidate and was elected in May. The assassination of Vice-President Luis Maria Argana and the killing of eight student anti-government demonstrators, allegedly carried out by Oviedo supporters, led to Cubas' resignation in March 1999. The President of the Senate, Luis Gonzalez Macchi, assumed the presidency and completed Cubas' term. Gonzalez Macchi offered cabinet positions in his government to senior representatives of all three political parties in an attempt to create a coalition government that proved short-lived. Gonzalez Macchi's government suffered many allegations of corruption, and Gonzalez himself was found not guilty in a Senate impeachment trial involving corruption and mismanagement charges in February 2003.

In April 2003, Colorado candidate Nicanor Duarte Frutos was elected president. He was inaugurated on August 15. Duarte's administration has focused upon attacking corruption and improving the quality of management, in the wake of the Gonzalez administration, widely considered the most corrupt in the post-Stroessner era. Duarte has been successful at working constructively with an opposition-controlled Congress, and in his first year of office, six Supreme Court justices suspected of corruption were removed from office, and major tax reforms were enacted. Macroeconomic performance has improved significantly under the Duarte administration, with inflation falling significantly, and the government clearing its arrears with international creditors. Unemployment remains stubbornly high and the living standard of most households has not improved. The administration has placed a strong emphasis on participating in international institutions and has used diplomacy to promote the opening of international markets to Paraguayan products. In June 2004, Oviedo returned to Paraguay from exile in Brazil and was imprisoned for his 1996 coup-plotting conviction.

GOVERNMENT AND POLITICAL CONDITIONS

Paraguay's highly centralized government was fundamentally changed by the 1992 constitution, which provides for a division of powers. The president, popularly elected for a 5-year term, appoints a cabinet. The bicameral Congress consists of an 80-member Chamber of Deputies and a 45-member Senate, elected concurrently with the president through a proportional representation system. Deputies are elected by department and senators are elected nationwide. Paraguay's highest judicial body is the Supreme Court. A popularly elected governor heads each of Paraguay's 17 departments.

Principal Government Officials

Last Updated: 10/19/2005

President: Nicanor DUARTE FRUTOS
Vice President: Luis CASTIGLIONI
Min. of Agriculture & Livestock: Gustavo Nelson RUIZ Diaz
Min. of Education & Culture: Blanca OVELAR
Min. of Finance: Ernst BERGEN
Min. of Foreign Affairs: Leila RACHID Lichi de Cowles
Min. of Industry & Commerce: Raul VEGA
Min. of Interior: Rogelio BENITEZ
Min. of Justice & Labor: Derlis CESPEDES
Min. of National Defense: Roberto GONZALEZ
Min. of Public Health & Social Welfare: Maria Teresa LEON Mendaro
Min. of Public Works & Communications: Jose Alberto ALDERETE
Presidential Security Adviser: Oscar LATORRE
Governor, Central Bank: Monica PEREZ
Ambassador to the US: James SPALDING
Permanent Representative to the UN, New York: Eladio LOIZAGA

Paraguay maintains an embassy in the United States at 2400 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20008 (tel. 202-483-6960). Consulates are in Miami, New York, and Los Angeles.

ECONOMY

Paraguay has a predominantly agricultural economy, with a struggling commercial sector. There is a large subsistence sector, including sizable urban unemployment and underemployment, and a large underground re-export sector. The country has vast hydroelectric resources, including the world's largest hydroelectric generation facility built and operated jointly with Brazil (Itaipú Dam), but it lacks significant mineral or petroleum resources. The government welcomes foreign investment in principle and accords national treatment to foreign investors, but widespread corruption is a deterrent. The economy is dependent on exports of soybeans, cotton, grains, cattle, timber, and sugar; electricity generation, and to a decreasing degree on re-exporting to Brazil and Argentina products made elsewhere. It is, therefore, vulnerable to the vagaries of weather and to the fortunes of the Argentine and Brazilian economies.

According to Paraguayan Central Bank (BCP) data, Paraguay's real GDP in 2004 of $7.98 billion (in 1994 dollars) represented an increase of 3.9% from 2003. Data with the new base year was released in 2005. IMF data using the prior base year of 1982 shows real GDP growth of 2.9% in 2004. The per capita GDP rose to $1,173 in current U.S. dollar terms in 2004, but has fallen by more than a third since the peak of $1,793 in 1996. Given the importance of the informal sector, accurate economic measures are difficult to obtain. Paraguay presently maintains a balance-of-payments surplus. It runs a deficit in the trade of goods, but a large surplus in services, reflecting large exports of electricity from Paraguay's two large hydroelectric dams shared with Brazil and Argentina. In 2004, official foreign exchange reserves rose to $1.17 billion, an increase of $184.2 million over 2003, and an increase of almost 50% from 2002 ($582.8 million). Foreign official debt rose slightly to $2.35 billion. Inflation in 2004 dropped to 2.8%, down from 9.3% in 2003 and the lowest rate since 1970.

Agriculture and Commerce

Agricultural activities, most of which are for export, represent about 21.1% of GDP. More than 200,000 families depend on subsistence farming activities and maintain marginal ties to the larger productive sector of the economy. The commercial sector is primarily engaged in the import of goods from Asia and the United States for re-export to neighboring countries. The recorded activities of this sector have declined significantly in recent years, placing a strain on government finances, which depend heavily on taxes on this trade. In general, Paraguayans prefer imported goods, and local industry relies on imported capital goods. The under-ground economy, which is not included in the national accounts, may equal the formal economy in size. The bulk of underground activity centers on the unregistered sale of imported goods—including computers, sound equipment, cameras, liquor, and cigarettes—to Argentina and Brazil.

DEFENSE

The constitution designates the president as commander in chief of the armed forces. Military service is compulsory, and all 18-year-old males—and 17 year olds in the year of their 18th birthday—are eligible to serve for one year on active duty. However, the 1992 constitution allows for conscientious objection. Of the three services, the army has the majority of personnel, resources, and influence. With about 7,000 personnel, it is organized into three corps, with six infantry divisions and three cavalry divisions. The military has two primary functions: national defense (including internal order) and engaging in civic action programs as directed by the president. The navy consists of approximately 2,000 personnel and in addition to its fleet, has an aviation section, a prefecture (river police), and a contingent of marines (naval infantry). The air force, the newest and smallest of the services, has approximately 1,200 personnel.

FOREIGN RELATIONS

Paraguay is a member of the United Nations and several of its specialized agencies. It also belongs to the Organization of American States, the Latin American Integration Association (ALADI), the Rio Group, INTERPOL, and MERCOSUR (the Southern Cone Common Market). Paraguay is closely aligned with its MERCOSUR partners on many political, economic, and social issues.

U.S.-PARAGUAY RELATIONS

U.S. Interests in Paraguay

The United States and Paraguay have an extensive relationship at the government, business, and personal level. Paraguay is a partner in hemispheric initiatives to improve counternarcotics cooperation, combat money laundering, trafficking in persons, and other illicit cross-border activities, and adequately protect intellectual property rights. The United States looks to Paraguay, which has substantial rainforest and riverine resources, to engage in hemispheric efforts to ensure sustainable development. In early 2005, Paraguay was deemed eligible to participate in the Millennium Challenge Corporation's (MCC) Threshold Country Program (TCP), which helps countries improve their governance, levels of investment in their citizens, and economic freedom, so they can qualify for the MCC's principal program. Paraguay has submitted a formal TCP proposal. The United States and Paraguay also cooperate in a variety of international organizations.

Paraguay has taken significant steps to combat terrorism-financing activity in the tri-border area it shares with Argentina and Brazil. It participates in antiterrorism programs and fora, including the Three Plus One process, with its neighbors and the United States.

The United States strongly supports consolidation of Paraguay's democracy and continued economic reform, the cornerstones of cooperation among countries in the hemisphere. The United States has played important roles in defending Paraguay's democratic institutions, in helping resolve the April 1996 crisis, and in ensuring that the March 1999 change of government took place without further bloodshed.

Bilateral trade with the United States has increased over the last three years, after a steady decline over several years due to a long-term recession of the Paraguayan economy. Although U.S. imports from Paraguay were only $58.6 million in 2004, up from $53.3 million the previous year, U.S. exports to Paraguay in 2004 were $622.9 million, up from $483.6 million in 2003, according to U.S. Customs data. (Not all exports and imports are reflected in Paraguayan government data.) More than a dozen U.S. multinational firms have subsidiaries in Paraguay. These include firms in the computer, agro-industrial, telecom, banking, and other service industries. Some 75 U.S. businesses have agents or representatives in Paraguay, and more than 3,000 U.S. citizens reside in the country.

U.S. Assistance

The U.S. Government has assisted Paraguayan development since 1942. The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) currently supports a variety of programs to strengthen Paraguay's democratic institutions in the areas of civil society, local government and decentralization, national reform of the state, rule-of-law, and anti-corruption. Other important areas of intervention are economic growth, the environment and public health. The total amount of the program is approximately $8 million in fiscal year 2005.

The U.S. Department of State, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Department of Justice and the Department of Treasury provide technical assistance, equipment, and training to strengthen counter narcotics enforcement, combat trafficking in persons, promote respect for intellectual property rights, and to assist in the development and implementation of money laundering legislation and counter terrorism legislation.

On December 19, 2003, U.S. and Paraguayan officials signed a new Memorandum of Understanding to strengthen the legal protection and enforcement of intellectual property rights in Paraguay.

Since 2003 the U.S. Government has a Resident Enforcement Advisor and Resident Justice Advisor in Paraguay working on money laundering and terrorist financing and other financial crimes, the fight against organized crime and corruption, and the administrative reorganization of the financial institutions related to money and products laundering.

In 2005, the State Department's Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) provided Paraguay with $600,000 in assistance to support its efforts to combat narcotics trafficking, money laundering, and violations of intellectual property rights.

Starting in 2004, a Resident Public Debt Advisor, a Resident Budget Advisor, and a Resident Tax Advisor from the Department of Treasury have been working with Paraguayan counterparts to implement essential reforms. The U.S. Department of Defense provides technical assistance and training to help modernize, professionalize, and democratize the military.

The Peace Corps has about 160 volunteers working throughout Paraguay on projects ranging from agriculture and natural resources to education, rural health, and urban youth development.

The Office of Public Diplomacy also is active in Paraguay, providing information on the United States to the press and public, as well as helping to arrange educational and citizen exchanges to promote democracy.

Principal U.S. Embassy Officials

ASUNCION (E) Address: 1776 Avda. Mcal. Lopez; APO/FPO: AA 34036; Phone: 595-21-213715; Fax: 595-21-213728; INMARSAT Tel: 8816-76311050; Workweek: Mon-Thur:0730-1730; Fri: 0730-1130; Website: www.usembparaguay.gov.py.

Other Contact Information

U.S. Department of Commerce International Trade Administration Office of Latin America and the Caribbean
14th and Constitution Ave., NW
Washington, DC 20230
Tel: (202) 482-0477, 800-USA-TRADE
Fax: (202) 482-0464
http://www.ita.doc.gov/

Paraguayan-American Chamber of Commerce
General Díaz 521, Piso 4, Oficina 1
Edificio El Faro Internacional Asuncion, Paraguay
Tel: (595) 21-442-135
E-mail: [email protected]
http://pamcham.com.py
(Branch office in Ciudad del Este)

TRAVEL

Consular Information Sheet

August 02, 2005

Country Description:

Paraguay is a constitutional democracy with a developing economy. Tourist facilities are adequate in the capital city of Asuncion, but they vary greatly in quality and prices. Travelers outside Asuncion should consider seeking travel agency assistance, as satisfactory or adequate tourist facilities are very limited in other major cities and almost nonexistent in remote areas.

Entry/Exit Requirements:

The U.S. Government will begin to phase in new passport requirements for U.S. citizens traveling in the Western Hemisphere. By December 31, 2007, all U.S. citizens will be expected to depart and enter the United States on a valid passport or other authorized document establishing identity and U.S. citizenship. The Department of State strongly encourages travelers to obtain passports well in advance of any planned travel. Routine passport applications by mail take up to six weeks to be issued. For further information, go to the State Department's Consular
Website: http://travel.state.gov/travel/cbpmc/cbpmc_2223.html.

A passport and visa are required. U.S. citizens traveling to Paraguay must submit completed visa applications in person or by mail to the Paraguayan Embassy or one of the consulates and pay a fee. Application forms are available from the Paraguayan Embassy or Consulate by email or fax. Tourist visa applicants must present with their application a passport with at least six months validity from the date of the application; two passport photographs; two copies of a bank statement or other evidence of financial solvency; and two copies of a round-trip ticket or a printed trip itinerary prepared by a travel agency. Persons traveling on business must also submit a company letter. Applicants under 18 years of age traveling alone must appear with both parents or a legal guardian. In case of a guardian, an original and one copy of proof of legal guardianship is required. A document of authorization from parents/guardian will be accepted only if it is notarized and certified by the county clerk. There is an airport international departure tax, payable in either U.S. or local currency (no credit cards or checks accepted). For current information concerning entry and customs requirements for Paraguay, travelers may contact the Paraguayan Embassy at 2400 Massachusetts Avenue N.W., Washington, D.C. 20008, telephone (202) 483-6960, Internet: http://www.embaparusa.gov.py; email: [email protected]; or the Paraguayan consulate in Los Angeles, Miami, or New York. The Paraguayan consulates in Kansas City, New Orleans, Detroit, and Puerto Rico are not authorized to issue visas.

Safety and Security:

As stated in the Department of State's latest Worldwide Caution, U.S. citizens overseas may be targeted by extremist groups and should maintain a high level of vigilance. The U.S. Embassy is not aware of any specific terrorist threat to Americans in Paraguay. Individuals and organizations providing financial support to extremist groups operate in Ciudad del Este and along the tri-border area between Paraguay, Brazil and Argentina. Because of concerns about the lack of security in border areas, the U.S. Embassy in Asuncion requires U.S. Government personnel and their family members to provide advance notice and a travel itinerary when traveling to Ciudad del Este or Pedro Juan Caballero. As a general precaution, the Embassy also counsels its employees traveling outside of the capital to provide an itinerary including dates, contact names and telephone numbers where the employee may be reached.

Several high-profile kidnappings for ransom have occurred. Although kidnapping remains rare, the problem appears to be increasing. Targets are usually established members of the Paraguayan business community or their family members.

U.S. citizens should avoid large gatherings or any other event where crowds have congregated to demonstrate or protest. Such activities have resulted in intermittent road closures including major routes traveled by tourists and residents. While generally nonviolent, roadblocks have turned violent in the past. Areas where such closures and barricades exist should be avoided. U.S. citizens who encounter roadblocks should not attempt to continue the planned travel or to confront those at the roadblock. Instead, they should wait for the road to reopen or return to the origin of their trip. Uniformed police often conduct roving checks of vehicles and passengers.

For the latest security information, Americans traveling abroad should regularly monitor the Department's Internet web site at http://travel.state.gov where the current Travel Warnings and Public Announcements, including the Worldwide Caution Public Announcement, can be found. Up-to-date information on safety and security can also be obtained by calling 1-888-407-4747 toll free in the U.S., or for callers outside the U.S. and Canada, a regular toll-line at 1-202-501-4444. These numbers are available from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal holidays).

Crime:

Crime has increased in recent years with criminals often targeting those thought to be wealthy. Most crime is nonviolent. However, U.S. citizens have on occasion been the victims of assaults, kidnappings, robberies, and rapes. Local authorities frequently lack the training and resources to solve these cases. Under these circumstances, U.S. citizens traveling to or residing in Paraguay should be aware of their surroundings and security at all times. They should take common sense precautions including refraining from displaying expensive-looking cameras and jewelry, large amounts of money, or other valuable items. Resistance to armed assailants has often aggravated the situation and therefore is not advised.

There has been a recent increase of drugging and robberies in downtown Asuncion. Most of the cases involve prostitutes drugging and robbing their clients. Several victims have reported being approached in a bar by a man or woman who strikes up a conversation and offers to buy them a drink. The victim awakens the next morning to find he has been robbed with no memory of what occurred.

Armed robberies, car thefts, and home invasions are common in both urban and rural areas. Street crime, including pick pocketing and mugging, is prevalent in the cities, particularly during the evening hours in the vicinity of hotels and airports. The number of pick-pocketing incidents and armed assaults is also increasing on public buses and in the downtown area of Asunción. As many incidents on public buses involve individuals snatching valuables, passengers should not wear expensive-looking jewelry or display other flashy items. There have been incidents of pilferage from checked baggage at both airports and bus terminals. Travelers have found it prudent to hide valuables on their person or in carry-on luggage. Unauthorized ticket vendors also reportedly operate at the Asuncion bus terminal, badgering travelers into buying tickets for substandard or non-existent services.

Information for Victims of Crime:

The loss or theft abroad of a U.S. passport should be reported immediately to the local police and the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate. If you are the victim of a crime while overseas, in addition to reporting to local police, please contact the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate for assistance. The Embassy/Consulate staff can, for example, assist you to find appropriate medical care, contact family members or friends and explain how funds could be transferred. Although the investigation and prosecution of the crime is solely the responsibility of local authorities, consular officers can help you to understand the local criminal justice process and to find an attorney if needed.

Medical Facilities and Health Information:

Good medical facilities, prescription and over-the counter medicine, supplies, and services are available only in Asuncion. Elsewhere, these are limited and may not exist.

Information on vaccinations and other health precautions, such as safe food and water precautions and insect bite protection, may be obtained from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's hotline for international travelers at 1-877-FYI-TRIP (1-877-394-8747) or via the CDC's Internet site at http://www.cdc.gov/travel. For information about outbreaks of infectious diseases abroad consult the World Health Organization's (WHO) website at http://www.who.int/en. Further health information for travelers is available at http://www.who.int/ith.

Medical Insurance:

The Department of State strongly urges Americans to consult with their medical insurance company prior to traveling abroad to confirm whether their policy applies overseas and whether it will cover emergency expenses such as a medical evacuation.

Traffic Safety and Road Conditions:

While in a foreign country, U.S. citizens may encounter road conditions that differ significantly from those in the United States. The information below concerning Paraguay is provided for general reference only, and may not be totally accurate in a particular location or circumstance.

U.S. citizens have been injured and killed in traffic accidents. Only minimal standards must be met to obtain a Paraguayan driver's license, and driver education prior to licensing is not common. Drivers throughout Paraguay routinely ignore traffic regulations. No vehicle insurance is required, and many Paraguayans drive without any insurance coverage. Persons who drive in Paraguay should be prepared to drive defensively and with their own insurance in both urban and rural areas.

Public transportation is readily available for urban and inter-city travel. Buses vary in maintenance conditions and may not meet U.S. safety standards. Armed robberies occur on buses in cities and rural areas, sometimes with the apparent collusion of the bus driver. Taxis are available and may be called using telephone numbers listed in the newspapers. No passenger train service exists. Bicycle travel may not be safe due to traffic and other road hazards.

Most urban streets consist of cobblestones over dirt. Some roads in Asuncion and other large cities are paved. However, these roads frequently develop potholes that often remain unrepaired. Nearly all rural roads are unpaved, and during rainy periods and the rainy season (November-March/April) they may be impassable. Road signs indicating hazards, such as sharp curves or major intersections, are lacking in many areas.

Driving or traveling at night is not advisable outside Asuncion because animals or vehicles without proper lights are often on the roads. In addition, assaults and other crimes against motorists traveling at night have occurred. Extra precautions should be exercised along infrequently traveled portions of the rural roads.

Intercity highway maintenance is not equal to U.S. standards. The privately maintained toll road between Caaguazu and Ciudad del Este and the routes between Asuncion and Encarnacion and Asuncion and Pedro Juan Caballero are in good condition. Most other intercity routes are in good to fair condition, with brief stretches in poor condition. The Trans-Chaco route is in fair condition except for the portion between Mariscal Estigarribia and the Bolivian border, which is unpaved and at times impassable.

In Asuncion, the following phone numbers exist for roadside/ambulance assistance:

Emergency Services, including police and ambulances: 911
Fire Department, including rescue of accident victims: 131, 132.

The Touring and Automobile Club provides some roadside assistance to its members. The Club may be contacted in Asuncion by visiting its offices at 25 de Mayo near Brasil, First Floor, or telephoning 210-550, 210-551, 210-552, 210-553, Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., or Saturday from 8:00 a.m. to noon, except for Paraguayan holidays. The Touring Club also has offices in Ciudad del Este (tel. 061-512-340), Coronel Oviedo (tel. 0521-203-350), Encarnacion (tel. 071-202-203), San Ignacio Misiones (tel. 082-232-080), and Loma Plata (tel. 0918-2610). Towing services are scarce outside of urban areas. Twenty-four-hour tow truck services from Asuncion may be contacted by telephoning (021) 224-366. For an extra fee, these companies may provide service outside of Asuncion, but they typically demand immediate payment and may not accept credit cards.

Visit the website of the country's national tourist office and national authority responsible for road safety at http://www.senatur.gov.py and http://www.mopc.gov.py/.

Aviation Safety Oversight:

The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has assessed the Government of Paraguay as not being in compliance with ICAO international aviation safety standards for the oversight of Paraguay's air carrier operations.

Special Circumstances:

Paraguay's customs authority may enforce strict regulations concerning temporary importation into or export from Paraguay of items such as firearms, medications, toys resembling weapons, or protected species. It is advisable to contact the Paraguayan Embassy in Washington, D.C. or one of Paraguay's consulates in the United States for specific information regarding customs requirements. In many countries around the world, counterfeit and pirated goods are widely available. Transactions involving such products are illegal and bringing them back to the United States may result in forfeitures and/or fines.

Criminal Penalties:

While in a foreign country, a U.S. citizen is subject to that country's laws and regulations, which sometimes differ significantly from those in the United States and may not afford the protections available to the individual under U.S. law. Penalties for breaking the law can be more severe than in the United States for similar offenses. Persons violating Paraguay's laws, even unknowingly, may be expelled, arrested or imprisoned. Penalties for possession, use, or trafficking in illegal drugs in Paraguay are severe, and convicted offenders can expect long jail sentences and heavy fines. Engaging in illicit sexual conduct with children or using or disseminating child pornography in a foreign country is a crime, prosecutable in the United States.

Children's Issues:

For information on international adoption of children and international parental child abduction, see the Office of Children's Issues website at http://travel.state.gov/family/family_1732.html.

Registration/Embassy Location:

Americans living or traveling in Paraguay are encouraged to register with the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate through the State Department's travel registration website, https://travelregistration.state.gov, and to obtain updated information on travel and security within Paraguay. Americans without Internet access may register directly with the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate. By registering, American citizens make it easier for the Embassy or Consulate to contact them in case of emergency. The U.S. Embassy is located at 1776 Mariscal Lopez Avenue; telephone (011-595-21) 213-715, fax (011-595-21) 213-728; Internet: http://asuncion.usembassy.gov, email: [email protected]. The Consular Section is open for U.S. citizen services, including registration, Monday through Thursday from 1:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. and Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., except for U.S. and Paraguayan holidays, telephone (011-595-21) 213-715, fax (011-595-21) 228-603.

International Adoption

July 2005

The information below has been edited from a report of the State Department Bureau of Consular Affairs, Office of Overseas Citizens Services. For more information, please read the International Adoption section of this book and review current reports online at www.travel.state.gov/family.

Disclaimer:

The information in this flyer relating to the legal requirements of specific foreign countries is based on public sources and our current understanding. Questions involving foreign and U.S. immigration laws and legal interpretation should be addressed respectively to qualified foreign or U.S. legal counsel.

Please Note:

Presently, international adoptions are not allowed in Paraguay. Paraguayan law gives preference in adoption to Paraguayan citizens and legal permanent residents residing in Paraguay. As a matter of policy, the government of Paraguay does not permit international adoptions. Should international adoptions be permitted in the future, the government will only allow adoptions by citizens of countries that have ratified the Hague Convention on Intercountry Adoption (the Convention) and signed an agreement with the central governmental authority overseeing adoptions. The United States has not yet ratified the Convention.

Patterns of Immigration of Adopted Orphans to the U.S.:

Recent U.S. immigrant visa statistics reflect the following pattern for visa issuance to orphans:

Fiscal Year: Number of Immigrant Visas Issued
FY 2004: 0
FY 2003: 1
FY 2002: 1
FY 2001: 1
FY 2000: 1

Adoption Authority in Paraguay:

The adoption authority for the host government is the Centro de Adopciones (Adoption Center), which is under the authority of the National Secretariat of Childhood and Adolescence. Inquiries should be made in Spanish.
Address: Avenida Mariscal Lopez
1549 c/Pitiantuta, Asuncion.
Phone: 595-21-207-160
Hours: Monday thru Friday from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Eligibility Requirements For Adoptive Parents:

The Paraguayan government restricts adoptions to couples who have been married for at least three years; male/female couples who have lived together for more than four years; or single women. Married couples are given preference. Adoptive parents must be between the ages of 25 and 50. Persons with infectious contagious diseases or mental illnesses are not eligible to adopt.

Residential Requirements:

The government of Paraguay requires that adoptive parents must be Paraguayan citizens or legal permanent residents of Paraguay and must reside in Paraguay.

There is no period of residency requirement; however, proof of residency in the form of a permanent resident card or local identification card is required.

Time Frame:

Total time to complete an adoption in Paraguay ranges from 9 months to 2 years from the time the child is declared eligible for adoption to completion. The child may be placed in the custody of the adoptive parents pending the completion of the adoption. Total time to declare a child eligible for adoption is usually four months but can be longer.

Adoption Agencies and Attorneys:

All adoptions must be processed through the Adoption Center. Please see Important Notice Regarding Adoption Agents and Facilitators at our Web site: (http://travel.state.gov/family/adoption/info/info_454.html).

Adoption Fees in Paraguay:

The Adoption Center does not charge a fee. Attorneys assisting adopting parents set their own fees, which vary greatly.

Adoption Procedures:

No international adoptions are permitted in Paraguay. When a child is abandoned or becomes an orphan, the Adoption Center is notified and must first attempt to find a relative to care for the child. If no relative can be found, the child remains under the authority of the Adoption Center until a judicial declaration is made that the child is adoptable. At that time, the court will usually release the child into the custody of the prospective parents until the final adoption decree is signed.

Persons interested in adopting a child must file an application form at the Adoption Center and provide the required documentation. After a review of their application and completion of a home study, the names of individuals approved to adopt are placed on a list of available parents. A child is assigned to prospective parents based on the Adoption Center's judgment of which family will best suit the child.

Documents Required for Adoption in Paraguay:

Prospective adoptive parents must undergo a home study under the direction of the Adoption Center and provide the following documentation:

• Copy of Paraguayan identification card;
• Birth Certificate;
• Marriage Certificate (if applicable);
• Legalized Health Certificate;
• Certificate of Police and Judicial Records;
• Certificate of Residence in Paraguay;
• Certificate of Income and ID photos.

Authenticating U.S. Documents to be Used Abroad:

Paraguay is not a party of the Hague Convention Abolishing the Requirement for Legalization of Foreign Public Documents, so the Legalization Convention "apostille" certificate should not be used for documents to be presented in Paraguay. Instead, the "chain authentication method" will be used to authenticate documents for Paraguay. Visit the State Department website at travel.state.gov for additional information about authentication procedures.

Paraguay Embassy and Consulates in the United States:
Embassy of Paraguay-Washington, DC
2400 Massachusetts Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20008
Phone: (202) 483 6960
Fax: (202) 234 4508
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.embaparusa.gov.py

Jurisdiction: District of Columbia (DC), Maryland, Delaware, Virginia, West Virginia, Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska and Kansas.

Consulate General of Paraguay-Los Angeles
6033 Century Boulevard West
Suite 985
Los Angeles, CA 90045
Phone: (310) 417 9500
Fax: (310) 417 9520
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.paraguayconsulatela.com

Jurisdiction: Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, California, Nevada, Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Utah, Colorado, Alaska and Hawaii.

Consulate General of Paraguay - Miami
25 SE 2nd Avenue
Suite 705
Miami, FL 33131
Phone: (305) 374 9090
Fax: (305) 374 5522
Email: [email protected]

Jurisdiction: Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Alabama, Tennessee, Kentucky, Mississippi, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri, Puerto Rico, Bahamas and Caiman Islands.

Consulate General of Paraguay–New York
211 East 43rd Street
Suite 201
New York, NY 10017
Phone: (212) 682 9441
Fax: (212) 682 9443
Email: [email protected]

Jurisdiction: Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, New York, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Ohio, Indiana, Michigan and Wisconsin.

U.S. Immigration Requirements:

Please see the International Adoption section of this book for more details and review current reports online at travel.state.gov/family.

U.S. Embassy in Paraguay:

1776 Mariscal Lopez Avenue; telephone (011-595-21) 213-715, fax (011-595-21) 213-728; Internet: http://asuncion.usembassy.gov. The Consular Section is open for U.S. citizen services, including registration, Monday through Thursday from 1:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. and Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., except for U.S. and Paraguayan holidays.

Additional Information:

Specific questions about adoption in Paraguay may be addressed to the U.S. Embassy in Paraguay. General questions regarding international adoption may be addressed to the Office of Children's Issues, U.S. Department of State, CA/OCS/CI, SA-29, 4 th Floor, 2201 C Street, NW, Washington, D.C. 20520-4818, toll-free
Tel: 1-888-404-4747.