US embassy cable - 05MADRID3073

UNCLAS MADRID 003073 
 
SIPDIS 
 
4212/MAC/CEA/PDACHER; 
3133/CS/OIO/EUR/PBUCHER/TMOORE 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ETRD, OTRA, BEXP, SP, Country Visits 
SUBJECT: COUNTRY CLEARANCE FOR COMMERCE DEPARTMENT 
DEPUTY ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR EUROPE ERIC STEWART 
AND WESTERN AND NORTHERN EUROPEAN COUNTRIES DIRECTOR 
PAUL DACHER TO TRAVEL TO MADRID, SPAIN. 
 
 
1.   COUNTRY CLEARANCE IS GRANTED FOR U.S. 
   DEPARTMENT 
OF COMMERCE - DEPUTY ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR EUROPE 
ERIC STEWART AND WESTERN AND NORTHERN EUROPEAN 
COUNTRIES DIRECTOR PAUL DACHER TO TRAVEL TO MADRID, 
SPAIN ON SEPTEMBER 26 - 29, 2005 TO PARTICIPATE IN 
THE U.S. - SPAIN INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY FORUM ON 
SEPTEMBER 28 AND TO HOLD CONSULTATIONS WITH THE 
GOVERNMENT OF SPAIN AND THE PRIVATE SECTOR. 
 
2.   WE CONFIRM HOTEL RESERVATION FROM SEPTEMBER 26 
TO SEPTEMBER 29, 2005(3- NIGHTS) FOR MR. STEWART AND 
MR. DACHER AT: 
 
HOTEL INTERCONTINENTAL 
PASEO DE LA CASTELLANA, 49 
28046 MADRID 
TEL.: 34-91-700-7300 
 
PRICE PER ROOM:  160.00 EUROS PLUS 7% TAX.  TOTAL 
AMOUNT IN EUROS 171.20 (NO BREAKFAST INCLUDED). 
 
MR. STEWART'S RESERVATION NO.IS 69069290. 
 
MR. DACHER'S RESERVATION NO. IS 69070604 
 
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).  AGUIRRE.