SECRETARY RICE'S TRIP TO MADRID: ADVANCE TEAM

UNCLAS MADRID 001028 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS EUR/WE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ASEC OVIP SUBJECT: SECRETARY RICE'S TRIP TO MADRID: ADVANCE TEAM CLEARANCE REF: SECSTATE 72002 ¶1. (SBU) Embassy warmly welcomes Paul Watzlavick, S/ES-S Line Officer, to travel to Madrid, Spain on May 27 to June 2. The purpose of this visit is to provide advance support and preparation for the Secretary's visit. ¶2. (U) The overall control officer is Deputy Chief of Mission, Hugo Llorens and can be reached on blackberry 649-419-709. Ricardo Zuniga is the S/ES Liaison Officer and can be reached at the Embassy 34-91-587-2386 mobile 650 625 413, or at the home 34-91-650-6081. Liaison officer Zuniga will meet and assist at the airport and will meet Mr. Watzlavick in the baggage claim area after the immigration checkpoint. The cell phone number Mr. Watzlavick will be assigned is 618-872-601. ¶3. (U) Hotel reservations have been made at the Intercontinental Hotel on Paseo de la Castellana, 49, the telephone number is 91-700-7370. The perdiem rate for Madrid is $260 for lodging and $144 for M&IE. The hotel confirmation number is 61767043. ¶4. (U) 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. ¶5. 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. AGUIRRE