US embassy cable - 05MADRID3757

UNCLAS MADRID 003757 
 
SIPDIS 
 
3133/CS/OIO/EUR/PBUCHER/TMOORE 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: OTRA, BE, GM, SP 
SUBJECT: COUNTRY CLEARANCE FOR COMMERCE 
DEPARTMENT/U.S. AND FOREIGN COMMERCIAL SERVICE 
ASSISTANT SECRETARY AND DIRECTOR GENERAL ISRAEL 
HERNANDEZ AND SPECIAL ASSISTANT MIGUEL ROMANO. 
 
1.   COUNTRY CLEARANCE IS GRANTED FOR U.S. 
   DEPARTMENT 
OF COMMERCE/U.S. AND DIRECTOR GENERAL ISRAEL 
HERNANDEZ AND SPECIAL ASSISTANT MIGUEL ROMANO, WHO 
WILL VISIT MADRID, SPAIN FOR A SERIES OF COMMERCIAL 
SERVICE AND AMBASSADORIAL PROGRAMS BETWEEN NOVEMBER 
10 AND 14, CONCLUDING THAT EVENING WITH THE OFFICIAL 
OPENING OF CS MADRID'S OFFICES ON NOVEMBER 15, 2005. 
 
2.   WE CONFIRM HOTEL RESERVATION FROM NOVEMBER 10 - 
15, 2005(6 NIGHTS) FOR MR. HERNANDEZ AND MR. ROMANO 
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. HERNANDEZ AND ROMANO'S RESERVATION NO.IS 
67051336. 
 
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