Mission impregnable?

Press, 9 June 1986, Page 12

Mission impregnable?

NZPA-AP Washington The United States State Department has budgeted SUS 33 million (SNZS6.I million) to build and furnish an embassy compound in Belize — a Central American country with proUnited States policies, thriving democratic institutions, no terrorism, and a population less than half the size of Christchurch. Even to a Belizean diplomat, SUS 33 million sounds like a lot of money. It is also the kind of project that is raising concern in the United States Congress over whether the State Department really needs the SUSI. 4 billion (SNZ2.4 billion) it is requesting for embassy construction and security in the coming fiscal year. The Secretary of State, George Shultz, told reporters last week that efforts to protect embassies against terrorists are absolutely essential even if they are expensive. Members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee have questioned whether the ex-

pense is warranted in a place such as Belize — or if a SUS2I million (5NZ35.7 million) consulate is needed in Chaingmai, Thailand, or a new SUS 26 million (5NZ44.2 million) embassy is needed in the capital of the West African country of Benin. Armed with a staff report suggesting that embassy construction costs are 20 per cent higher than necessary, the committee voted on May 14 to cut in half a two-year request for 8U52.1 billion (5NZ3.57 billion). Belize is an English-speaking country that shares borders with Mexico and Guatemala. By Third World standards it is not particularly poor. Its 152,000 people earn an average of SUSIIOO (8NZ1870) a year and there is a tradition of pro-American sentiment and democracy fostered during a long period of British rule. A few years ago, Belize decided to move its Government headquarters to Belmopan, 80km upcountry by two-lane road from Belize City, the commercial centre and former capital on the Caribbean Coast.

The United States Embassy is now in a rented building in Belize City, requiring an occasional dusty drive to the capital for the 27 United States diplomats and their locally-hired staff. The British already have built an embassy in Belmopan, for about half the cost projected for the United States facilities, according to a foreign relations panel report. Robert Blackburn, an official of the State Department’s foreign buildings office, says the United States plan calls for a chancery, residences for the ambassador and his chief deputy, a warehouse and 12 staff houses. Why does it cost so much? According to Mr Blackburn, even though terrorism is not a problem in Belize, all new United States embassies must be provided with top-notch security, including extra perimeters, reinforced concrete construction, thick walls, and bullet-proof glass in strategic spots.

Constructing a secure building can often increase costs 50 per cent, Mr Blackburn said.