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Canberra rips up lease for new Russian embassy, citing ‘use it or lose it’ policy

Anton NilssonNCA NewsWire
Russia was planning to build a new embassy in Canberra. Facebook
Camera IconRussia was planning to build a new embassy in Canberra. Facebook Credit: Supplied

Canberra officials have ripped up the lease for a planned new Russian embassy under a “use it or lose it” policy, claiming the country didn’t finish building its new diplomatic headquarters fast enough.

The National Capital Authority (NCA) told Russia on Wednesday that it had 20 days to vacate the “premium” site in Yarralumla, a stone’s throw from Parliament House.

Russia, which already has an embassy in the Canberra suburb of Griffith, was planning to relocate the embassy to the Yarralumla site where a new building would be erected.

The lease was granted in 2008 and works and building approvals were issued in 2011.

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Russia had promised to finish building in three years, the NCA said, but had not completed the project.

“The block is a premium site in central Canberra, close to Lake Burley Griffin and the Australian Parliament House,” NCA chief executive Sally Barnes said.

“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.”

Supplied Editorial Russian Embassy Generic. The Embassy of Russia in Canberra. Picture: Facebook
Camera IconRussia was planning to build a new embassy in Canberra. Facebook Credit: Supplied

Ms Barnes said the NCA “supports a policy of ‘use it or lose it’” and added Russia hadn’t “demonstrated a willingness and ability to develop the site”.

“While initial works have commenced, the block in question has been sitting as a building site with unfinished construction for many years now,” she said.

Ms Barnes said the NCA had discussed the matter with the Russians “over many years”.

Once the site is cleared, it will be offered up for diplomatic purposes again.

Other nations, including Russia, will be able to apply to use it.

Originally published as Canberra rips up lease for new Russian embassy, citing ‘use it or lose it’ policy

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