SPAIN COUNTRY CLEARANCE FOR USNRC COMMISSIONER

UNCLAS MADRID 000868 SIPDIS STATE PLEASE PASS TO USNRC:C.ROSALES-BUSH E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KNNP ENRG TRGY OVIP SP SUBJECT: SPAIN COUNTRY CLEARANCE FOR USNRC COMMISSIONER MERRIFIED AND DELEGATION REF: STATE 55129 ¶1. Embassy welcomes and grants country clearance to USNRC Commissioner Jeffrey S. Merrified; Mr. John Thoma, the Commissioner's Technical Assistant for Materials; Mr. William Borchardt, Deputy Director of the Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation; Mr. John Greeves, Director of the Division of Waste Management; and Cindy Rosales Bush, International Relations Specialist, Office of International Programs, to visit various sites in Madrid, Guadalajara and Santander March 28-April 2, to conduct a bilateral meeting with the Consejo de Seguridad Nuclear (CSN),and give a speech at the Nuclear Energy Industry's World Nuclear Fuel Cycle Conference ¶2004. ¶2. Control Officer for this visit is Science and Technology Officer Laura Lochman who can be reached at, Office PH: 34-91-587-2385; Cell: 34-649-864978; e-mail: lochmanla@state.gov. The courtesy visit with the Ambassador is confirmed for March 29 at 09:00 am. Transportation has also been arranged for Commissioner Merrifield and delegation as requested reftel. ¶3. 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. ARGYROS