COUNTRY CLEARANCE FOR FIELD SUPPORT

UNCLAS MADRID 002574 SIPDIS USDOC FOR 3140/USFCS/DO/DAS/APINCKNEY; 3133/USFCS/OIO/EUR/PBUCHER/SLETTEN E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: BEXP SP SUBJECT: COUNTRY CLEARANCE FOR FIELD SUPPORT SPECIALIST PORTLAND USEAC, ELIZABETH VARGA. REF: USDOC 02958 ¶1. COUNTRY CLEARANCE IS GRANTED FOR FIELD SUPPORT SPECIALIST PORTLAND USEAC ELIZABETH VARGA. MS. VARGA WILL BE SERVING AN ADMINISTRATIVE TDY AND WILL BE WORKING WITH ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF IN MADRID FROM JULY 9 THRU JULY 24, 2004 AND IN BARCELONA FROM JULY 16 THRU 20, 2004. ¶2. HOTEL RESERVATIONS HAVE BEEN MADE FOR MS. VARGA AT MIGUEL ANGEL HOTEL IN MADRID. ADDRESS: CALLE MIGUEL ANGEL, 31, TEL.: 91/452- 05 30. IN BARCELONA AT HOTEL ACTUAL 3. ADDRESS: CALLE ROSELLO, 238 (ESQUINA PASSEIG DE GRACIA),TEL.: 93/552 05 50. ¶3. TRAVELER SHOULD BE AWARE THAT SPAIN REQUIRES A VISA FOR OFFICIAL OR DIPLOMATIC PASSPORTS. ¶4. THREAT ASSESSMENT: IN GENERAL, SPAIN IS SAFE. HOWEVER, MADRID, BARCELONA AND OTHER LARGE CITIES IN SPAIN - INCLUDING RESORT/CONVENTION AREAS SUCH AS BENIDORM - ATTRACT A LARGE NUMBER OF CRIMINALS AND PICKPOCKETS AND FREQUENT INCIDENTS OF CRIME OF OPPORTUNITY AGAINST THE UNWARY DO OCCUR. CARRY ONLY ESSENTIAL ITEMS INCLUDING A PHOTOCOPY OF YOUR PASSPORT'S PHOTO PAGE. VISITORS CAN PROTECT THEMSELVES AGAINST CRIME BY BEING STREET-SMART, ALERT AND AWARE OF THEIR SURROUNDINGS. IN THE EVENT YOU ARE VICTIMIZED BY CRIME, OR EXPERIENCE ANY SECURITY-RELATED INCIDENT, PLEASE CONTACT THE EMBASSY'S REGIONAL SECURITY OFFICE AT 91-587-2550 OR AFTER HOURS AT 91-587-2355. OFFICIAL VISITORS TO THE EMBASSY IN MADRID OR THE CONSULATE GENERAL IN BARCELONA ARE ENCOURAGED TO RECEIVE A SECURITY BRIEFING FROM THE RSO OFFICE AT THEIR EARLIEST CONVENIENCE. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION REGARDING SAFETY AND SECURITY IN SPAIN IS AVAILABLE ON THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE'S WEBSITE (HTTP://WWW.STATE.GOV) AND THE U.S. EMBASSY'S WEBSITE (WWW.EMBUSA.ES). TRAVELERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REVIEW THE MOST RECENT WORLDWIDE CAUTION ISSUED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF STATE. AS THE DEPARTMENT OF STATE CONTINUES TO DEVELOP INFORMATION ON ANY POTENTIAL SECURITY THREATS TO AMERICANS OVERSEAS, IT SHARES CREDIBLE THREAT INFORMATION THROUGH ITS CONSULAR INFORMATION PROGRAM DOCUMENTS, AVAILABLE ON THE INTERNET AT HTTP://TRAVEL/STATE.GOV. IN ADDITION TO INFORMATION ON THE INTERNET, U.S. TRAVELERS CAN HEAR RECORDED INFORMATION BY CALLING THE DEPARTMENT OF STATE IN WASHINGTON, D.C. AT 202-647-5225 FROM THEIR TOUCH- TONE TELEPHONE, OR RECEIVE INFORMATION BY AUTOMATED TELEFAX BY DIALING 202-647-3000 FROM THEIR FAX MACHINE. (CS/KUCHOVA/ORTEGA). MANZANARES. _______________________________ 1Press F9 after you type the information requested at bottom left of your screen. 2Press F9 after you type the information requested at bottom left of your screen.