Cablegate: Spain Country Clearance for Nih/Fic Drs. Valencia,

VZCZCXRO2792
RR RUEHLA
DE RUEHMD #2293 2570848
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 140848Z SEP 06
FM AMEMBASSY MADRID
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0732
INFO RUEHLA/AMCONSUL BARCELONA 2069

UNCLAS MADRID 002293

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR EUR/WE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KSCA TBIO SP OTRA
SUBJECT: SPAIN COUNTRY CLEARANCE FOR NIH/FIC DRS. VALENCIA,
PAVAN AND HUIZING

REF: A. SECSTATE 151176

B. FICT-2952-06

1. Embassy grants country clearance to Dr. Julio Valencia,
Visiting Fellow, Dr. William Pavan, Senior Investigator, and
Dr. Marian Huizing, Staff Scientist, NIH to travel to
Barcelona, Spain from September 22 to October 2 (Valencia),
September 22 - 29 (Pavan), and September 23-27 (Huizing).
The purpose of the trip is to attend and participate in the
13th Meeting of the European Society for Pigment Cell
Research.

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. 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

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