US embassy cable - 05MADRID2375

UNCLAS MADRID 002375 
 
SIPDIS 
 
USDOC FOR USFCS/DO/DAS/APINCKNEY/3140; 
USDOC FOR USFCS/OIO/RD/EUR/MPETERS/3133; 
CS/OIO/EUR/PBUCHER/TMOORE/3133 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: BEXP, OTRA, BMGT, ABUD, AFIN, EI, SP, Country Visits 
SUBJECT: COUNTRY CLEARANCE FOR MARK PETERS, DIRECTOR 
OF THE MISSOULA USEAC TO TRAVEL TO MADRID. 
 
 
1.   COUNTRY CLEARANCE IS GRANTED FOR MARK PETERS, 
DIRECTOR OF THE MISSOULA USEAC IN MISSOULA, MT TO 
TRAVEL TO MADRID, SPAIN ON JULY 5 TO 7, 2005.  MR. 
PETERS WILL BE PARTICIPATING IN A TRADE MISSION IN 
PARTNERSHIP WITH CONGRESSMAN REHGERG. 
 
2.  AS PER YOUR CABLE USDOC 02479 WE UNDERSTAND THAT 
HOTEL ARRANGEMENTS HAVE BEEN ALREADY ARRANGED. 
 
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/WILSON/ORTEGA).  MANZANARES. 
 
 
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