Cablegate: Spain Country Clearance for Federal Reserve System

VZCZCXRO8563
RR RUEHLA
DE RUEHMD #2570 2861231
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 131231Z OCT 06
FM AMEMBASSY MADRID
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0998
INFO RUEHLI/AMEMBASSY LISBON 1636
RUEHLA/AMCONSUL BARCELONA 2130

UNCLAS MADRID 002570

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR EUR/WE
EB/IFD/OMA, CAROLYN.DRACH@FRB.GOV

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EFIN ECON OTRA SP
SUBJECT: SPAIN COUNTRY CLEARANCE FOR FEDERAL RESERVE SYSTEM
OFFICIALS

REF: SECSTATE 167993

1. Embassy grants country clearance and warmly welcomes
Federal Reserve System Officials; Bill Estes, Senior Vice
President, Robert Schenck, Vice President, Molly Willison,
Director Foreign Bank Analysis, Laurence Bonnemere, Assistant
Vice President, Jane Green, Surpervising Examiner and Terry
Muckleroy, Senior Supervisory Financial Analyst to travel to
Madrid and Barcelona, Spain from October 13 to October 21,
2006. The purpose of this visit is to meet with management
of U.S. banks operating in Spain.

2. Post understands that no assistance is requested. Please
contact Whitney Baird, Economic Counselor, to discuss
meetings, she can be reached at Embassy number 91-587-2288 or
cell phone number 650-624-831.

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.
AGUIRRE

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