COUNTRY CLEARANCE GRANTED FOR CONSULAR

UNCLAS MADRID 003666 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KCSY CMGT AADP CASC CPAS SP AMAT CUIS SUBJECT: COUNTRY CLEARANCE GRANTED FOR CONSULAR SUPPORT TO BARCELONA REF: SECSTATE 202307 ¶1. Embassy Madrid grants country clearance and welcomes Harris Orkand information services contractors Timothy Curran, Fernando Canarte, and Nancy Rapin to Barcelona, Spain, from September 28 to October 15, 2004. ¶2. Your hotel information is: Hotel Princesa Sofia Plaza Pio XII, 4 Barcelona Tel: 34-93-508-1000 Rate: 160.00 euros (196.31 dollars) (Vat not included) Breakfast included ¶3. Control officers for this visit in Barcelona are David Cummings, Admin Officer and Linda Eichblatt, Consular Officer. Office hours are 08:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. The Consulate General address is: Paseo Reina Elisenda de Montcada, 23 08034 Barcelona tel. (34)(93) 280-2227 ext. 273 cell phone nos. David Cummings (34) 626-034076 Linda Eichblatt (34) 649-295952 ¶4. Post is unable to meet and assist. Taxi transportation from the airport in Barcelona is safe and reliable. The approximate cost in Barcelona is 17 euros (21 dollars). ¶5. RSO grants permission for the unclassified laptop to be brought into the consular section. Please be advised that no interface should be made between any USG in-house system and the laptop without the clearance of the IPO. ¶6. Visitors are reminded that bearers of diplomatic and official passports coming to Spain on official business need to obtain a Spanish visa prior to their arrival. ¶7. In general, Spain is safe. However, Madrid and other large cities in Spain attract a number of criminals and pickpockets and frequent incidents of crimes of opportunity against the unwary occur. Carry only essential items, including a photocopy of your passport. 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. Additional information regarding safety and security in Spain is available on the U.S. Department of State's website (http://www.state.gov). ¶8. 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. ARGYROS