COUNTRY CLEARANCE FOR CODEL MILLER

UNCLAS MADRID 003073 SIPDIS CODEL DEPARTMENT FOR H/CALLARD/DIGGS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: OREP AMGT ASEC AFIN JO PK AF IZ BA DJ EG SP SUBJECT: COUNTRY CLEARANCE FOR CODEL MILLER REF: STATE 172566 ¶1. Embassy Madrid warmly welcomes and grants country clearance to Rep. Jeff Miller, House Armed Services Committee (HASC),and delegation, to visit Spain from August 24-25, 2004 for an overnight stop at Rota Naval Base. ¶2. Embassy Control Officer for this visit is Econ Officer Richard C. Merrin, tel: (34) 91-587-2399 (office),(34) 659-057-024 (cell),e-mail: MerrinRC@state.gov. Administrative Point of Contact at Rota is Lieutenant Colin Corridan, tel: (34) 95-682-2795 (office),(34) 659-901-288 cell, e-mail: corridanc@navsta.rota.navy.mil. ¶3. Embassy understands accommodations and ground transportation for the delegation are being arranged by Rota. ¶4. THREAT ASSESSMENT: In general, Spain is safe. However, Madrid and other large cities in Spain -- including resort/convention areas such as Benidorm -- attract a large number of criminals and pick-pockets and frequent incidents of crimes of opportunity against the unwary do occur. Carry only essential items, including a photocopy of your passport's photo page. Visitors can protect themselves from crime by being street-smart, alert, and aware of their surroundings. In the event you are victimized by crime, or experience any other 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. MANZANARES