SPAIN COUNTRY CLEARANCE FOR USITC STAFF BAUMERT

UNCLAS MADRID 001103 SIPDIS STATE PLEASE PASS TO US INTERNATIONAL TRADE COMMISSION E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ETRD ASEC OTRA SUBJECT: SPAIN COUNTRY CLEARANCE FOR USITC STAFF BAUMERT AND BLOODGOOD REF: STATE 48329 ¶1. Embassy welcomes and grants country clearance to USITC staff members Jennifer Baumert and Laura Bloodgood to travel to Madrid, April 14-19, to meet with Spanish private sector and government officials to discuss renewable energy-related issues. ¶2. Control Officer is Economic Officer Ken Forder who can be reached at, work: (34)91-587-2385; cellular: 34-6506-22426; home: (34)91-759-7867; e-mail: forderk@state.gov. ¶3. Reservations have been made (per diem US$230 plus $117 M&IE) at 165 Euros per night (Exchange approx. US$0.75) at Hotel Melia Galgos located at Calle Claudio Coello 139, 28006 Madrid. Tel. (34) 91-562-6600; Fax: (34) 91-562-7519. Hotel is one block from the Embassy. ¶4. Translation services have also been arranged not to exceed 1,358 Euros for full day service April 15 and 18. ¶5. Visitors are reminded that bearers of diplomatic and official passports coming to Spain on official business need to obtain a Spanish visa prior to arrival to Spain. ¶6. 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 (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