SPAIN COUNTRY CLEARANCE FOR EUR DEPUTY SECRETARY

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 MADRID 001117 SIPDIS SENSITIVE STATE FOR S/ES-EX:T.MUSHINGI E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: AMGT OVIP ZOELLICK ROBERT SUBJECT: SPAIN COUNTRY CLEARANCE FOR EUR DEPUTY SECRETARY ZOELLICK AND PARTY REF: STATE 47243 ¶1. (SBU) Embassy warmly welcomes and grants country clearance to Deputy Secretary of State Robert B. Zoellick; Acting Assistant Secretary for Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs Robert Bradtke; Executive Assistant Ross Wilson; Special Assistants Christine Davies, Campbell Marshall and Gene Young; and Executive Secretariat Management Officer Tuli Mushingi, to visit Madrid, April 2-3. ¶2. (SBU) EMBASSY CONTACT INFORMATION --Control Officer is Economic Officer Carl Schonander, Office PH: (34)91-587-2295; H: (34)91-561-6641; Cell: 34-6994-66473; Fax (34) 91-587-2292; e-mail: schonanderce@state.gov. --Public Affairs Control Officer is John Law, Office PH: (34)91-5872509; H: (34)91-564-3716; Cell: 34-6709-13910; e-mail: lawj@state.gov. --MGMT/Baggage Control Officer is Margaret Kurtz-Randall (Liaise with T. Mushingi),Office PH: (34)91-587-2223; H: (34)91-564-1229; Cell: 34-6998-37384; e-mail: kurtz-randallmx@state.gov --RSO contact is Michael Malamud, Office PH: (34) 91-587-2549; H: (34)91-350-6675; Cell: 34-6393-41359; e-mail: malamudh@state.gov. --Embassy address is: Calle Serrano 75, 28006 Madrid - Embassy Switchboard is: (34)91-587-2200; Post 1: (34) 91-587-2355. --CELL PHONES: Embassy control officer cell phones can be accessed by dialing 0034 and then the number. ¶3. (SBU) LODGING: Reservations have been made for the night of April 2 at the Palace Hotel, address: Plaza de las Cortes 7, 28014 Madrid - PH: (34) 91-360-800; Fax: (34) 91-360-7774. The hotel is close to Retiro park, which is suitable for running. ¶4. (U) 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. ¶5. THREAT ASSESSMENT: (U) 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 mach