COUNTRY CLEARANCE FOR COMMERCE DEPARTMENT

UNCLAS MADRID 003073

SIPDIS

4212/MAC/CEA/PDACHER;
3133/CS/OIO/EUR/PBUCHER/TMOORE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ETRD OTRA BEXP SP
SUBJECT: COUNTRY CLEARANCE FOR COMMERCE DEPARTMENT
DEPUTY ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR EUROPE ERIC STEWART
AND WESTERN AND NORTHERN EUROPEAN COUNTRIES DIRECTOR
PAUL DACHER TO TRAVEL TO MADRID, SPAIN.



1. COUNTRY CLEARANCE IS GRANTED FOR U.S.
DEPARTMENT
OF COMMERCE - DEPUTY ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR EUROPE
ERIC STEWART AND WESTERN AND NORTHERN EUROPEAN
COUNTRIES DIRECTOR PAUL DACHER TO TRAVEL TO MADRID,
SPAIN ON SEPTEMBER 26 - 29, 2005 TO PARTICIPATE IN
THE U.S. - SPAIN INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY FORUM ON
SEPTEMBER 28 AND TO HOLD CONSULTATIONS WITH THE
GOVERNMENT OF SPAIN AND THE PRIVATE SECTOR.


2. WE CONFIRM HOTEL RESERVATION FROM SEPTEMBER 26
TO SEPTEMBER 29, 2005(3- NIGHTS) FOR MR. STEWART AND
MR. DACHER 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. STEWART'S RESERVATION NO.IS 69069290.

MR. DACHER'S RESERVATION NO. IS 69070604


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). AGUIRRE.