VZCZCXYZ0023
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHMD #0613 1511528
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 301528Z MAY 08
FM AMEMBASSY MADRID
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 4870
INFO RUEHBS/AMEMBASSY BRUSSELS 5306
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 1046
RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS 1502

UNCLAS MADRID 000613 
 
CODEL 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR EUR/WE 
STATE FOR H AND RM/F/DFS/FO/AA/CAA 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: AMGT ASEC EFIN OREP OTRA
SUBJECT: SPAIN COUNTRY CLEARANCE FOR STAFFDEL BEARES 
 
REF: SECSTATE 51266 
 
¶1. Embassy grants clearance and warmly welcomes Professional 
Staff Member Ellen Stein Beares, Simon Gros, James Ray, and 
Heideh Shahmoradi-Holley from the Department of 
Transportation and the other members of the delegation to 
Madrid, Spain from May 29 to June 1 on an official visit. 
 
¶2.  Post will assist with logistics as requested in reftel. 
Lourdes Lamela, Econ Officer is the control officer and point 
of contact she can be reached at embassy number 34 91 587 
2399, blackberry number 699 447 981 and email address 
LamelaLM@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.  Post can provide DoS email access via OpenNet 
(unclassified system) to State Department travelers who have 
active OpenNet accounts. Post can also support users who wish 
to access their email accounts using FOBs or OWA.  Exchange 
5.5 users (ask your system manager to provide Exchange server 
version) who have to use remote login to access their 
exchange email accounts will need to provide Post,s IM 
section with the name of their DoS Domain and their Exchange 
Server name and/or IP address. 
 
¶5.  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. 
Aguirre