Cablegate: Spain Country Clearance for Nasa Administrator,

VZCZCXYZ2057
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHMD #2326 2581541
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 151541Z SEP 06
FM AMEMBASSY MADRID
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 0765

UNCLAS MADRID 002326

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR EUR/WE
STATE PASS TO NASA/ESAR, JENNIFER.L.TROXELL@NASA.GOV

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: TSPA OTRA SP
SUBJECT: SPAIN COUNTRY CLEARANCE FOR NASA ADMINISTRATOR,
DR. MICHAEL GRIFFIN AND SENIOR NASA OFFICIALS

REF: SECSTATE 152936

1. Embassy grants country clearance to Dr. Michael Griffin,
NASA Administrator and delegation of Senior NASA officials,
to travel to Valencia, Spain from September 28 to October 8,
2006. The purpose of this visit is to attend and present at
the Fifty Seventh International Astronautical Congress and
conduct meetings.

2. Post will coordinate assistance requested in reftel with
NASA European REpresentative, Dr. J. Donald Miller. The
control officer for this visit is Ken Forder, ESTH officer,
he can be reached at Embassy number 91-587-2385 or via
blackberry number 650-622-426.

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.
LLORENS

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