Press Statement

Statement from the US Embassy addressing rumors that the U.S. government is planning to purchase or otherwise acquire land in the Topaana neighborhood.

April 29, 2008

We firmly reject the unfounded rumors and reports circulating that suggest that the U.S. government is planning to purchase or otherwise acquire land in the Topaana neighborhood in Cair Municipality. The U.S. Embassy in Skopje is not going to displace anyone. The new Embassy under construction at the Gradiste location is fully adequate for our future mission in Macedonia. There are no plans to purchase or otherwise acquire additional land or facilities in the Topaana neighborhood. Any individual or group falsely representing itself as an agent of the U.S. Embassy should be reported directly to the Regional Security Office of the U.S. Embassy and to local authorities.

We wish to reiterate that the new American Embassy will be a symbol of our friendship and partnership with Macedonia, and of the democratic values that we share. We will do our best to be a good neighbor in our new neighborhood. The new Embassy is a major U.S. investment in this country, and an expression of confidence in the future of the Republic of Macedonia as an independent, unitary, multi-ethnic state.