Cablegate: Spain Country Clearance for Millennium Challenge

VZCZCXYZ0000
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHMD #2736 2991513
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 261513Z OCT 06
FM AMEMBASSY MADRID
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 1156

UNCLAS MADRID 002736

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR EUR/WE
PASS TO MILLENNIUM CHALLENGE CORP

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAID AFIN OTRA ECON SP KMCA
SUBJECT: SPAIN COUNTRY CLEARANCE FOR MILLENNIUM CHALLENGE
CORPORATION, GROSSMAN AND PICHA

REF: MILLENNIUM CHALLENGE CORP 202212Z

1. Embassy grants country clearance and warmly welcomes
Millenium Challenge Corporation representatives; Michael
Grossman, Senior Country Director, Francophone Africa and
David Picha, Agricultural Consultant to travel to Madrid,
Spain from October 25 to October 29, 2006. The purpose of
this visit is to continue due diligence on the arboricultural
component of the MCA-Morocco proposal.

2. Post understands no logistic assistance is requested.
Control Officer is Kenneth Forder, Economic Officer, he can
be reached at Embassy number 91-587-2385, cell phone number
650-622-426 or email address forderk@state.gov.

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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