New U.S. Embassy in Moldova declared national interest
The construction of the new U.S. Embassy in the Republic of Moldova has been declared a national public interest project.
The draft law to this effect was approved at the Government meeting on Wednesday, February 5. As a result, properties in the area will be expropriated, and their owners will be compensated.
Sale of Land and U.S. Investments
In 2018, the parliamentary majority led by Vladimir Plahotniuc passed a law allowing the sale of the land of the former Republican Stadium to the U.S. Embassy. The decision was overturned in 2020 by a new parliamentary majority, but in 2021, the Constitutional Court ruled the annulment unconstitutional.
In April 2022, Prime Minister Natalia Gavrilița and U.S. Ambassador Kent Logsdon signed a memorandum for the sale of the land for the new embassy’s construction. The U.S. committed to restoring the gates of the former stadium and creating a public park in collaboration with Moldovan authorities.
Efforts by socialist councilors to organize a referendum on the matter were unsuccessful.
In July 2024, Parliament ratified the land sale agreement for the U.S. Embassy. The purchase price of the land is 18 million euros, and the U.S. will reimburse 7.5 million euros for the expenses related to the land transfer and expropriation. Total investments in the new embassy will exceed 250 million dollars.
Earlier, the Government announced that funds from this transaction will be used to establish the "Universe" Contemporary Culture and Arts Center, rehabilitate sports schools nationwide, conduct feasibility studies, and design the future National Stadium.
Context: The U.S. Embassy has been searching for land for its headquarters for over 20 years, with the first official discussions regarding this land taking place in 2008, one year after the demolition of the former stadium. The first official request for the land was made by the U.S. Embassy in 2015.
Previously, the Executive provided several key clarifications on this process:
Over the past 30 years, the U.S. has provided more than 2.5 billion dollars in non-repayable assistance to the citizens of the Republic of Moldova. We maintain a stable and strong strategic partnership with the U.S.
It is important to note that this is not the sale of the stadium, as it was demolished in 2007. This is about the sale of land that has been left abandoned. For 17 years, the area has been unsanitary, dirty, and turned into a shelter for stray dogs and homeless people.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
