SPAIN COUNTRY CLEARANCE FOR DOT: YACHMETZ, MARK

UNCLAS MADRID 001063

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR EUR/WE
DOT FOR BARBARA.PELLETIER@DOT.GOV

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ELTN ETRD OTRA SP
SUBJECT: SPAIN COUNTRY CLEARANCE FOR DOT: YACHMETZ, MARK

REF: SECSTATE 72757


1. Embassy grants country clearance to Mark Yachmetz,
Associate Administrator for Railroad Development of the
Federal Railroad Administration, DOT to travel to Valencia,
Spain on or about June 1 to June 8. The purpose of the visit
is to meet with Spanish Ministry of Transportation officials
concerning areas of mutual interest in intercity passenger
rail services.


2. Post understands that no assistance is required.


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. Post can provide DoS email access via OpenNet
(unclassified system) to State Department travelers who have
active OpenNet accounts. Post can also support users who wish
to access their email accounts using FOBs or OWA. Exchange
5.5 users (ask your system manager to provide Exchange server
version) who have to use remote login to access their
exchange email accounts will need to provide Post,s IM
section with the name of their DoS Domain and their Exchange
Server name and/or IP address.


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