COUNTRY CLEARANCE REQUEST FOR CODEL HASTINGS

UNCLAS MADRID 002061

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OREP AMGT ASEC AFIN SP
SUBJECT: COUNTRY CLEARANCE REQUEST FOR CODEL HASTINGS

REF: A. A. SECSTATE 98972

B. B. BOWERS/GRIDDINE EMAILS


1. Embassy warmly welcomes Representative Alcee Hastings to
travel to Madrid, Spain from June 6-10, 2005. The purpose of
this visit is to attend the Annual Conference on
Anti-Semitism and Other Forms of Intolerance of the
Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE).


2. Administrative POC for CODEL Hastings is EconOff
Stephanie Bowers, TEL: 34-91-587-2399; CELL:
34-91-699-447-981; Home: 34-91-431-4847; E-Mail:
BowersS@state.gov.


3. Per REF B, Embassy will pre-purchase round-trip AVE train
tickets from Madrid to Cordoba for CODEL Hastings. Embassy
will also facilitate transfers between the airport and train
stations in Madrid. Embassy staff deployed in Cordoba will
facilitate transfers between the Cordoba train station and
the conference hotel.


4. Reservations have been made the nights of June 7-10 at
Hotel Conquistador, located on c/Magistral Gonzalez Frances,
15 (TEL: 34-957-481-102; FAX: 34-957-474-677). Hotel rate
is EUR 166.27 for a single room and includes breakfast and
VAT. Please advise soonest if CODEL will depart Cordoba
prior to the morning of June 10.


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.


4. 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