São Paulo – The embassy of Palestine in Brasília started being built ten days ago, and should be ready in a year and eight months. The contract with the company responsible for the works was signed last Friday (19), in the capital of Brazil, in the presence of Arab diplomats who operate in Brazil and of the director general at the Arab Brazilian Chamber of Commerce, Michel Alaby. The construction company responsible is Sox Engenharia Ltda and the embassy will have Palestinian architecture.
According to the ambassador of Palestine in Brasília, and current dean of the Council of Arab Ambassadors in Brazil, Ibrahin Alzeben, this will be his country’s first embassy to be built in America. The others were either purchased ready or rented. “To us, this is very important. It reflects the Palestinian persistence in existing as a free and independent nation,” said the diplomat in an interview to ANBA.
According to Alzeben, the choice of Brazil for construction reflects the excellent relations between both nations. Currently, the embassy’s offices are rented. In December 2010, Palestine was granted the land for the embassy by the government of Brazil, at the time presided by Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. The area covers 16,000 square meters and is in the North Area of embassies, a privileged zone, with view to the North Lake.
The new embassy should cost R$ 13.3 million. Part of the funds will come from Palestine and another part, hopes the ambassador, may come from donations. The disclosure of how these donations may be made will come in two months, after the works have already progressed some.
The design of the embassy was by Jordanian-Palestinian company Jerdana. The site will include three buildings, one for the embassy itself, another for the ambassador’s house and a third for housing for embassy diplomatic workers. The constructions will follow eastern architectural style. In the main building, that of the embassy there will be a golden dome inspired on the Islamic and Christian sanctuaries of Palestine, according to Alzeben. The embassy will be a pink tone, with stones on some parts of the façade coming directly from Palestine.
*Translated by Mark Ament
