The government and the US Embassy yesterday signed a preliminary agreement, subject to approval by the Maltese Parliament, for the sale of a site at Ta’ Qali for construction of a new US Embassy.

The United States will invest over Lm18 million in this project, which is expected to last a couple of years.

In a statement issued late last night, the embassy said that since 1998, the American government had undertaken a long-term worldwide project to construct several new diplomatic missions overseas. 47 such

projects are currently underway. This project includes new embassies and consulates in several European and Mediterranean countries.

Under this initiative, the US government strives to build secure and functional buildings that blend American and local architectural traditions. Following the completion of many new US Embassy buildings around the world, it is now the turn of the US Embassy in Malta to be relocated, the statement said.

The new building will replace the current embassy, which has been located at St Anne Street, Floriana for well over 30 years. It will provide more comfortable and modern space for the full range of diplomatic activities that the embassy carries out.

American diplomats first arrived in Malta in 1978 and the two countries have had had full, close diplomatic ties since Malta achieved independence in 1964.