Canberra claims Moscow wasn’t building its new diplomatic headquarters fast enough
The lease agreement for the new Russian Embassy in Canberra has been terminated by Australia, as announced Wednesday by the National Capital Authority (NCA).
Russia is given 20 days for the evacuation “premium site”In Yarralumla (near the Australian parliament), the NCA made a statement.
The Russian embassy currently resides in Australia’s Griffith suburb. But plans are in place to move it into Yarralumla. This is where other diplomatic compounds can be found.
“The NCA supports a policy of ‘Use it or lose it,’”Sally Barnes (head of agency responsible for planning and developing capital) explained the reason behind the end of lease.
Moscow was accused of not being willing to develop the site at Yarralumla. It was granted in 2008 by Moscow.
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According to the NCA all the approvals for this building were given in 2011 with Russia promising that it would complete the construction within the next three years.
“While initial works have commenced, the block in question has been sitting as a building site with unfinished construction for many years now,” Barnes insisted.
“Ongoing unfinished works detract from the overall aesthetic, importance and dignity of the area reserved for diplomatic missions and foreign representation in the national capital,”Elle added.
The site will be cleared once it is returned to Canberra’s pool of land for diplomatic purposes. Requests from foreign countries to use the land will also be accepted.
“The Russian Federation may submit a new application in the future which the NCA will review and assess accordingly,”According to the agency.
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Tensions between Russia, Australia and the United States have increased since the Ukraine conflict. Canberra is currently supporting Kiev.
While Australia joined the international sanctions against Moscow and provided Ukraine with $390 million worth of armored vehicles, military equipment, and other weapons, the Australian authorities also supported them. Anthony Albanese, the Australian Prime Minister, claimed that his country is being attacked by Moscow during his recent visit to Kiev. “the largest non-NATO contributor”Kiev
On Thursday, Russia’s Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu slammed the AUKUS pact between the US, UK and Australia aimed at arming Canberra with a fleet of nuclear-powered submarines, saying it could “detonate”The entire Asia-Pacific region.
“The implementation of this plan will have a profound negative effect on global and regional security and create an environment for the undermining of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons,” Shoigu warned.
