SPAIN COUNTRY CLEARANCE FOR VA: IRENE PEDERSON

UNCLAS MADRID 000038

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR EUR/WE
DVA/OTP ELIZABETH.RODRIGUEZ3@VA.GOV

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OTRA SP
SUBJECT: SPAIN COUNTRY CLEARANCE FOR VA: IRENE PEDERSON

REF: DEPT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS FAX DTD 1/5/07


1. Embassy grants country clearance to Irene May Pederson,
Overseas Military Coordinator, VA Central Office to travel to
Rota, Spain on January 15 to June 04. The purpose of this
visit is to provide counseling to U.S. Military personnel
regarding Veterans Benefits available upon separation from
the military.


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