COUNTRY CLEARANCE FOR SPAIN DESK OFFICER

UNCLAS MADRID 002135 SIPDIS ITA/MAC/OEURA/DCALVERT/4212; ITA/MAC/OEURA/PNAAS/4212; ITA/MAC/OEURA/CPD/PDACHER/4212; CS/OIO/EUR/PBUCHER/TMOORE/3133 E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: BEXP SP SUBJECT: COUNTRY CLEARANCE FOR SPAIN DESK OFFICER DONALD CALVERT TO TRAVEL TO MADRID. ¶1. COUNTRY CLEARANCE IS GRANTED FOR ITA U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE - SPAIN DESK OFFICER DONALD CALVERT TO TRAVEL TO MADRID, SPAIN ON JUNE 13 AND 14 FOR CONSULTATIONS WITH EMBASSY, THE PRIVATE SECTOR, AND SPANISH GOVERNMENT REPRESENTATIVES ON KEY TRADE ISSUES. ¶2. WE CONFIRM HOTEL RESERVATION FROM JUNE 13 TO JUNE 14, 2005(1- NIGHT) FOR MR. CALVERT AT: HOTEL INTERCONTINENTAL PASEO DE LA CASTELLANA, 49 28046 MADRID TEL.: 34-91-700-7300 PRICE PER ROOM: 160.00 EUROS PLUS 7% TAX. TOTAL AMOUNT IN EUROS 171.20 (NO BREAKFAST INCLUDED). MR. CALVERT'S RESERVATION NO.IS 62128688. ¶3. TRAVELER SHOULD BE AWARE THAT SPAIN REQUIRES A VISA FOR OFFICIAL OR DIPLOMATIC PASSPORTS. ¶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 (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. (CS/KUCHOVA/ORTEGA). MANZANARES. _______________________________ 1Press F9 after you type the information requested at bottom left of your screen. 2Press F9 after you type the information requested at bottom left of your screen.