Land Agreement For New US Embassy Site

Bandar Seri Begawan - The US Embassy signed a Land Agreement with the Government of Brunei Darussalam for the purchase of a site on which to build a new embassy, on Thursday at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

Signing on behalf of the US government was Ambassador Emil Skodon, and signing on behalf of the Government of Brunei Darussalam was Awang Haji Mohamed Nor bin Haji Jeludin, Deputy Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

The agreement finalises a land purchase in the Diplomatic Enclave along Jalan Kebangsaan for the purpose of building a new embassy compound. Preliminary design work on the new embassy is already under way, and the new facility is expected to be completed in 2010.

Ambassador Skodon, commenting on the signing, said that it marks an important step in a process that began several years ago to upgrade the US Embassy to better meet the needs of the active and strong relationship with Brunei.

"We want our new home to demonstrate the United States' commitment to a long term and mutually beneficial relationship with Brunei. We also hope that when completed, our new embassy will be an attractive, safe, and technologically state-of-the-art place for our American and Bruneian staff to work and for our visitors to enjoy", he added.

Ambassador Skodon also expressed appreciation for the cooperation and assistance provided by the ministries and offices involved in the planning and realisation of this agreement, particularly the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, the Attorney General's Office, the Ministry of Development, Town and Country Planning, the Lands Department, Lands Survey Department, and the Tax and Duty Office.  -- Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin

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