October 12, 2006
Embassy of the United States of America
Belgrade

U.S. Embassy Statement Concerning Recent Article In Vecernje Novosti

The Embassy of the United States of America noted several highly inaccurate statements in Vecernje Novosti's article on October 12, 2006, regarding the purchase of land for a new Embassy compound. We take this opportunity to correct the record and lay out the actual facts:

The Embassy signed a contract with the Government of the Republic of Serbia on September 15, 2006, for the purchase of land upon which to construct a new American Embassy compound in Belgrade. The purchase price, according to the contract and agreed to between the U.S. and Serbian governments, is US $15 million. Both sides determined that this is a fair price, based on prevailing market conditions and on local independent appraisals carried out on the value of the site.

The United States Government will, of course, make full payment of the agreed price to the Serbian Government once the conditions agreed to by our two governments in the contract are fulfilled. In fact, the Embassy has already made a down payment of "earnest money" to the Republic of Serbia, in accordance with one of the conditions of the contract.

The Embassy is not aware of any connection between the 1952 agreement referenced in the Vecernje Novosti article and the contract signed on September 15, 2006.

The conclusion of this contract represents an important milestone in the bilateral relations between our two countries and symbolizes the long-term commitment of the U.S. to a strong relationship with Serbia.

12. oktobar 2006.
Ambasada Sjedinjenih Američkih Država
Beograd

Izjava američke ambasade povodom članka iz Večernjih Novosti

Ambasada Sjedinjenih Država primetila je nekoliko potpuno netačnih navoda u članku Večernjih Novosti od 12. oktobra 2006. godine u vezi kupovine zemljišta za izgradnju nove ambasade. Želimo ovom prilikom da iznesemo istinite činjenice:

Ambasada je potpisala ugovor sa vladom Republike Srbije 15. septembra 2006. godine za kupovinu parcele na kojoj će se izgraditi zgrada nove ambasade u Beogradu. Vlade SAD i Srbije su se sporazumele, što je i uneto u ugovor, da je kupoprodajna cena 15 miliona dolara. Obe strane su se složile da je ovo realna cena u skladu sa tržišnim pokazateljima, zasnovana na lokalnim nezavisnim procenama vrednosti zemljišta.

Vlada Sjedinjenih Država će vladi Srbije u potpunosti isplatiti dogovorenu sumu nakon ispunjenja ugovornih uslova prihvaćenih od strane obe vlade. Ambasada je već uplatila "kaparu" Republici Srbiji u skladu sa jednim od uslova ugovora.

Ambasada nije upoznata da postoji bilo kakva veza između ugovora iz 1952. godine koji pominju Večernje Novosti i ugovora potpisanog 15. septembra 2006. godine.

Zaključenje ovog ugovora predstavlja važan korak u bilateralnim odnosima dve zemlje i simbol je trajne privrženosti Sjedinjenih Država snažnim odnosima sa Srbijom.

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