SPAIN COUNTRY CLEARANCE FOR CODEL SHELBY

UNCLAS MADRID 002299

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR EUR/WE
H AND RM/F/DFS/FO/AA/CAA

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: AMGT ASEC OREP AFIN
SUBJECT: SPAIN COUNTRY CLEARANCE FOR CODEL SHELBY

REF: SECSTATE 169176


1. Embassy grants country clearance and warmly welcomes U.S.
Senator Richard Shelby, Ranking Member of the Senate Banking,
Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee and accompanying
delegation to travel to Spain on or about January 7 to
January 9. The purpose of travel is to meet with high-level
officials on a number of financial, economic, trade, and
security issues with a focus on international money
laundering and the financing of terrorism.


2. James Dudley is the point of contact and can be reached
at embassy number 34 91 587 2288, blackberry number 34 620
900 161, home number 34 91 372 1560, fax number 34 91 587
2292 and email address is DudleyJL@state.gov. Proposed
schedule and logistic information will be sent via email.


3. Hotel reservations have been made at the Hotel Hesperia
located on Castellana, 57, telephone number is 34 91 210 8800
and fax number is 34 91 210 8899. The room rate is $272 and
it includes VAT and breakfast. The perdiem rate for Madrid
is $272 for lodging and $151 for M&IE. Reservations can be
cancelled 48 hours without a penalty.


4. 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. 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.


6. 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