COUNTRY CLEARANCE FOR COMMERCE

UNCLAS MADRID 003757

SIPDIS

3133/CS/OIO/EUR/PBUCHER/TMOORE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OTRA BE GM SP
SUBJECT: COUNTRY CLEARANCE FOR COMMERCE
DEPARTMENT/U.S. AND FOREIGN COMMERCIAL SERVICE
ASSISTANT SECRETARY AND DIRECTOR GENERAL ISRAEL
HERNANDEZ AND SPECIAL ASSISTANT MIGUEL ROMANO.


1. COUNTRY CLEARANCE IS GRANTED FOR U.S.
DEPARTMENT
OF COMMERCE/U.S. AND DIRECTOR GENERAL ISRAEL
HERNANDEZ AND SPECIAL ASSISTANT MIGUEL ROMANO, WHO
WILL VISIT MADRID, SPAIN FOR A SERIES OF COMMERCIAL
SERVICE AND AMBASSADORIAL PROGRAMS BETWEEN NOVEMBER
10 AND 14, CONCLUDING THAT EVENING WITH THE OFFICIAL
OPENING OF CS MADRID'S OFFICES ON NOVEMBER 15, 2005.


2. WE CONFIRM HOTEL RESERVATION FROM NOVEMBER 10 -
15, 2005(6 NIGHTS) FOR MR. HERNANDEZ AND MR. ROMANO
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. HERNANDEZ AND ROMANO'S RESERVATION NO.IS

67051336.


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/WILSON/ORTEGA).
MANZANARES