Cablegate: Spain Country Clearance for Ambassador Gregory

VZCZCXYZ0033
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHMD #2461 2721301
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 291301Z SEP 06
FM AMEMBASSY MADRID
TO RUEHVI/AMEMBASSY VIENNA 0541
INFO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0892

UNCLAS MADRID 002461

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR EUR/WE
PASS TO AMB OMS JILL HINSON

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OTRA SP
SUBJECT: SPAIN COUNTRY CLEARANCE FOR AMBASSADOR GREGORY
SCHULTE

REF: UNVIE VIENNA 00711

1. Embassy grants country clearance and warmly welcomes
UNVIE Ambassador Gregory Schulte to travel to Madrid, Spain
from October 17 to October 19, 2006. The purpose of this
visit is to participate in Public Diplomacy events and to
meet with Embassy and government officials.

2. Post will coordinate assistance requested in reftel with
UNVIE Ambassadors Secretary Jill Hinson. 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.
AGUIRRE

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