NEW US EMBASSY BUILDING IN YEREVAN

Pan Armenian News
07.05.2005 03:20

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ May 6 the new American Embassy in Armenia opened
in Yerevan. The symbolic ribbon was cut by Armenian President
Robert Kocharian. As US Vice-Ambassador to Armenia Anthony Godfrey
told the journalists invited, the new American diplomatic mission is
located in a territory of 90 thousand square meters (9 hectares). It
is the second on size land property the US State Department has
abroad after Germany. 5 buildings are situated in the territory
that total 14 thousand square meters. One of these buildings will
be assigned to marines. As Godfrey noted, there are 6 of them at
the moment. However, according to some reports, their number may
soon increase up to 400. The Embassy walls are 50 centimeters wide
and are made of solid concrete with metallic grid. The Embassy will
have an autonomous energy supply and storage pond, he noted. The lot
is the property of the US, bought from the Armenian Government at
$5 million. A library will be open in the Embassy every day and all
those interested can make use of it. Conditions for those wishing to
obtain US visas are considerably improved. If they had to queue in
long lines outside in the past, a special hall is designed for them in
the new building. As reported by the US Vice-Ambassador, the building
cost $76 million to American taxpayers, $18 out of which went to the
Armenian economy, as some types of local construction materials were
used in the building, as well as labor. It should be reminded that
Turkish workers and foremen also participated in the construction
works that lasted 4 years. 70 Americans and 350 Armenians work there
at present. Opening the new Embassy building US Ambassador to Armenia
John Evans stated the new building on the bank of the Yerevan storage
pond symbolized the durable relations between the US and Armenia that
are highlighted by Washington. “From the day the republic attained
independence in 1991 we jointly worked over development of democracy,
establishment of free economy and market relations,” he stated,
adding at that the US appreciates Armenia’s role in international
struggle against terror. Mr. Evans also stated that Washington will
continue work with Yerevan and Baku “to find a fair solution to the
Karabakh conflict.” “Undoubtedly compromise will be necessary from
both parties,” Evans stated, emphasizing the American party is not
imposing anything and is ready to support any decision that will
fit both parties. Armenian Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian being
present at the ceremony stated in his turn that the building of the
Embassy “is a contribution and pledge of the faith to the US, to the
durability of our relations,” “We hope we will make much progress
with this building,” he stated, Regnum news agency reported.