Cablegate: Secretary Rice's Trip to Madrid: Advance Team

VZCZCXRO7028
RR RUEHAG RUEHDF RUEHIK RUEHLZ RUEHROV
DE RUEHMD #1028 1451542
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 251542Z MAY 07
FM AMEMBASSY MADRID
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 2641
INFO RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE
RUEHLA/AMCONSUL BARCELONA 2754

UNCLAS MADRID 001028

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

EUR/WE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ASEC OVIP
SUBJECT: SECRETARY RICE'S TRIP TO MADRID: ADVANCE TEAM
CLEARANCE

REF: SECSTATE 72002

1. (SBU) Embassy warmly welcomes Paul Watzlavick, S/ES-S Line
Officer, to travel to Madrid, Spain on May 27 to June 2. The
purpose of this visit is to provide advance support and
preparation for the Secretary's visit.

2. (U) The overall control officer is Deputy Chief of
Mission, Hugo Llorens and can be reached on blackberry
649-419-709. Ricardo Zuniga is the S/ES Liaison Officer and
can be reached at the Embassy 34-91-587-2386 mobile 650 625
413, or at the home 34-91-650-6081. Liaison officer Zuniga
will meet and assist at the airport and will meet Mr.
Watzlavick in the baggage claim area after the immigration
checkpoint. The cell phone number Mr. Watzlavick will be
assigned is 618-872-601.

3. (U) Hotel reservations have been made at the
Intercontinental Hotel on Paseo de la Castellana, 49, the
telephone number is 91-700-7370. The perdiem rate for Madrid
is $260 for lodging and $144 for M&IE. The hotel
confirmation number is 61767043.

4. (U) 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.

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

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