US embassy cable - 05MADRID2084

UNCLAS MADRID 002084 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: AINR, OTRA, SP, Country Visits 
SUBJECT: COUNTRY CLEARANCE FOR MAP PROCUREMENT MISSION 
(MONTE, JUDITH) (WEYAND, BRIAN) 
 
REF: STATE 70262 
 
1. Embassy Madrid welcomes and grants country clearance to 
Judith Monte and Brian Weyand, INR/I/M Geographic 
Specialists, to travel to Madrid, Bilbao and A Coruna, July 
2-15, for map collection as well as for Ms. Monte's 
attendance at the International Cartographic Association 
Conference in A Coruna. 
 
2. Political Officer Amy Tachco will be the point of contact 
for the visit. She can be reached at office numbers  34 91 
587 22 01 or  34 91 587 23 87, cell phone  34 696 933 208, or 
via email at TachcoAN@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. 
 
MANZANARES