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U.S. plans to enlarge its embassy building in Moscow

The United States is planning to enlarge its embassy in Moscow, building an additional seven storied- office building

MOSCOW, February 27 (Itar-Tass) —— The United States is planning to enlarge its embassy in Moscow, building an additional seven storied- office building, a source from the U.S. embassy in Moscow said on Monday.

Two floors on the bottom of the new building will be occupied by consular and visa services with the aim to shorten the procedure of visa issuance in connection with a growing number of Russian citizens, who apply for visas for purposes of business, education and tourism, and also for assistance to U.S. citizens who live, work or study in Russia, the embassy said.

The top floors of the new building will house offices of such organizations as NASA,a center for control and prevention of diseases, offices under the programs of foreign commercial services, evaluation of foreign agriculture which are aimed at further development of Russia- U.S. cooperation, the embassy said.

The embassy is planning to lay the foundation of the new embassy building in summer 2015.

The enlargement of the complex of the buildings of the US embassy in Moscow will be carried out in accordance with a program of diplomatic construction in Moscow and Washington according to an agreement signed in 1969 which was complemented in 1992.

The Main Administration for Service to the Diplomatic Corps ( UPDK) under the Russian Foreign Ministry and the Moscow government have ensured support to the project.

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