US embassy cable - 05MADRID607

UNCLAS MADRID 000607 
 
SIPDIS 
 
ITA/MAC/EUR/PDACHER/4212; 
ITA/MAC/EUR/DAS/ESTEWART/4212; 
USFCS/OIO/EUR/PBUCHER/TMOORE/3133 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: BEXP, SP, Country Visits 
SUBJECT: COUNTRY CLEARANCE FOR A/S WILLIAM LASH AND 
EUR DAS ERIC STEWART. 
 
 
1.   COUNTRY CLEARANCE IS GRANTED FOR ITA 
A/S WILLIAM LASH AND EUR DAS ERIC STEWART TO TRAVEL 
TO MADRID, SPAIN FEBRUARY 16 THROUGH 18, 2005. 
 
2.   WE CONFIRM HOTEL RESERVATION FROM FEBRUARY 16 
UNTIL FEBRUARY 18 (2- NIGHTS) FOR MESSRS. LASH AND 
STEWARD AT: 
 
HOTEL INTERCONTINENTAL 
PASEO DE LA CASTELLANA, 49 
28046 MADRID 
TEL.: 34-91-700-7300 
 
PRICE PER ROOM:  165.00 EUROS PLUS 7% TAX.  (NO 
BREAKFAST INCLUDED). 
 
MR. LASH'S RESERVATION NO.IS 67170948 AND 
MR. STEWART'S RESERVATION NO. IS 67171044. 
 
3.   TRAVELER SHOULD BE AWARE THAT SPAIN REQUIRES A 
VISA FOR OFFICIAL OR DIPLOMATIC PASSPORTS. 
 
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 
(HTTP://WWW.STATE.GOV) AND THE U.S. EMBASSY'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. 
(CS/KUCHOVA/ORTEGA).  MANZANARES.