Tear down this wall: US Embassy preparing to move

The Slovak capital and the US Embassy in Bratislava are launching negotiations on moving the headquarters of the US Embassy, bringing an end to the often-criticised security fence & barriers surrounding the building in Bratislava's Old Town since the aftermath of the 9/11 tragedy. The embassy is interested in moving to the current headquarters of Bratislava City Transport Company (DPB) on Olejkárska Street, as it allegedly meets the necessary security standards. Negotiations with the DPB management in this regard should be launched in the next few weeks. The long-expected move to a new site with a security zone is also viewed positively by Bratislava mayor Ivo Nesrovnal. "I welcome a decision that would enable Bratislava residents to use Hviezdoslav Square without any limits," he stated. In the meantime, the US Embassy has appealed against the Old Town borough's decision that it must remove its security fence following years of complaints that it spoils the character of the surrounding area. Old Town mayor Radoslav Števčík claimed that the embassy failed to provide proof of ownership or any other right to the land within the fence. This right expired, and Bratislava City Council has repeatedly turned down proposals for the embassy to rent city land that the fence encloses since 2016.