Paraguay Country Handbook This handbook provides basic reference information on Paraguay, including its geography, history, government, military forces, and communications and trans- portation networks. This information is intended to familiarize military per sonnel with local customs and area knowledge to assist them during their assignment to Paraguay. The Marine Corps Intel ligence Activity is the community coordinator for the Country Hand book Program. This product reflects the coordinated U.S. Defense Intelligence Community position on Paraguay. Dissemination and use of this publication is restricted to official military and gov- ernment personnel from the United States of America, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, NATO member countries, and other countries as required and desig- nated for support of coalition operations. The photos and text reproduced herein have been extracted solely for research, comment, and information reporting, and are intended for fair use by designated personnel in their official duties, including local reproduction for training. Further dissemination of copyrighted material contained in this document, to include ex- cerpts and graphics, is strictly prohibited under Title 17, U.S. Code. CONTENTS KEY FACTS .................................................................... 1 U.S. MISSION ................................................................. 2 U.S. Embassy ............................................................. 2 Entry Requirements .................................................... 2 Passport/Visa Requirements ................................. 2 Immunization Requirements ................................. 3 Customs Restrictions ............................................ 4 GEOGRAPHY AND CLIMATE ..................................... 4 Geography ................................................................... 4 Land Statistics ....................................................... 4 Boundaries ............................................................ 4 Bodies of Water ..................................................... 4 Topography ........................................................... 8 Climate ........................................................................ 10 Temperatures ......................................................... 10 Precipitation .......................................................... 11 Environment .......................................................... 14 TRANSPORTATION AND COMMUNICATION .......... 14 Transportation ............................................................. 14 Roads .................................................................... 15 Rail ........................................................................ 16 Air ......................................................................... 17 Maritime ............................................................... 18 Communication ........................................................... 20 Radio and Television .............................................. 20 Telecommunication ............................................... 21 Internet .................................................................. 22 iii CONTENTS (CONTINUED) Newspapers and Magazines .................................. 22 Postal Service ........................................................ 23 Satellites ................................................................ 23 CULTURE ...................................................................... 23 Statistics ..................................................................... 24 Population Patterns ............................................... 24 Ethnic Density ...................................................... 26 Society ........................................................................ 26 People ................................................................... 26 Family ................................................................... 27 Education and Literacy .............................................. 28 Language .................................................................... 28 Religion ...................................................................... 28 Recreation .................................................................. 29 Cultural Considerations .............................................. 30 Gestures ................................................................ 30 Personal Appearance ............................................. 30 Greetings ............................................................... 31 Visiting and Etiquette ........................................... 31 Food ...................................................................... 32 MEDICAL ASSESSMENT ............................................. 32 Disease Risks to Deployed Personnel ......................... 32 Food- or Waterborne Diseases ............................... 33 Vector-borne Diseases ............................................ 33 Sexually Transmitted and Blood-borne Diseases .. 33 Water-contact Diseases .......................................... 34 Respiratory-borne Diseases ................................... 34 Soil-contact Diseases ............................................. 34 Animal-associated Diseases ................................... 34 iv CONTENTS (CONTINUED) Medical Capabilities ................................................... 35 Key Medical Facilities ........................................... 36 HISTORY ........................................................................ 39 Chronology of Significant Events ............................... 43 GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS .................................. 45 Government ................................................................ 45 National Level ....................................................... 46 Local Level ........................................................... 47 Politics ....................................................................... 47 Political Parties .................................................... 49 Foreign Relations .................................................. 49 International Organizations ................................... 51 ECONOMY .................................................................... 52 Statistics 2006 ............................................................. 52 Resources ................................................................... 53 Industry ................................................................. 53 Agriculture ............................................................ 53 Utilities ................................................................. 54 Outlook ...................................................................... 55 THREAT .......................................................................... 55 Crime .......................................................................... 55 Travel Security ........................................................... 56 Terrorism ..................................................................... 57 Corruption ................................................................... 57 Drug Trafficking ......................................................... 57 ARMED FORCES ........................................................... 58 Army ........................................................................... 58 Mission .................................................................. 58 Organization ........................................................... 59 v CONTENTS (CONTINUED) Facilities ................................................................. 59 Personnel ............................................................... 59 Training .................................................................. 60 Equipment .............................................................. 60 Air Force ..................................................................... 61 Mission .................................................................. 61 Organization ........................................................... 61 Equipment .............................................................. 63 Navy ............................................................................ 64 Personnel ................................................................ 64 Disposition ............................................................ 64 Mission .................................................................. 66 Equipment .............................................................. 66 Marine Corps .............................................................. 67 Mission .................................................................. 67 Organization ........................................................... 67 Personnel and Equipment ...................................... 67 Training .................................................................. 67 Capabilities ............................................................ 68 Disposition ............................................................. 68 Paramilitary Forces ..................................................... 68 National Police ....................................................... 69 APPENDICES Equipment Recognition ................................................... A-1 International Time Zones ................................................. B-1 Conversion Charts ...........................................................