Official Says US Embassy Site in Berlin Almost Decided

The controversial reconstruction of the embassy of the United States in Berlin has almost been decided, an embassy spokeswoman said on Monday.

The US State of Department had agreed with the security standards of the planned new embassy site near the Brandenburg Tor gate, the spokeswoman was quoted by the Deutsche Presse Agentur as saying.

The "security distance" for the embassy is the major issue of the one-year-long debate. Under the general rules, there must be a 30-meter distance between embassy sites and streets.

The US agreed that the new site at the historic center of the Brandenburg Tor gate could be an exception, the spokeswoman said, adding that the Bush administration insisted on building the embassy on the Paris Plaza at the gate.

"We hope some remained problems can be settled in the near future," she added.






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