UNCLAS MADRID 002432

SIPDIS

STATE PLEASE PASS TO NASA/OER:LATIA MILLS
FOR EUR/WE AND OES/SAT

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: TSPA OTRA SP
SUBJECT: SPAIN COUNTRY CLEARANCE FOR NASA CHRISTOPHER
MERTENS

REF: STATE 115885


1. Embassy welcomes and grants country clearance to
Christopher Mertens from NASA's Langley Research Center
(LARC), to travel to Granada and Tortosa, July 22-25, to work
on an improved formulation and numerical implementation of
the Curtis Matrix and in Tortosa to give a talk at the
International Reference Ionosphere (IRI) Workshop.


2. Embassy appreciates that country clearance requests be
send at least seven days prior travelers departure. Ref
cable was received same day traveler is arriving post. We
understands that no assistance is necessary.


3. 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