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US to ease embassiesâ€™ security regime

10 April 2008 13:17 (UTC +04:00)

APA quotes RIA-Novosty as Republican Judd Gregg and Democrat Patrick Lixi asking her at the Senate hearings why US embassies turned into fortresses. Judd Gregg said it seriously threatened US image abroad. â€œI get surprised when I enter these embassies and ask myself: Is this America indeed? We have built real fortresses abroad like bunkersâ€. The Senator said US embassies didnâ€™t need in the security measures taken 10 years ago. He called on the Secretary of State to investigate the situation and to submit proposals to the Congress to improve the situation there. â€œOf course we have to protect the staff, but there should be methods to make embassies more friendly places for the host countries and the visitorsâ€. Responding the questions and remarks, Condoleezza Rice said embassies had to follow the hard security measures, but the State Department tried to make diplomatic missions more open. â€œI know the problem you have raised. We are trying to make our diplomatic missions friendlierâ€. As an example, she said that consular functions were separated from the US Embassy in China and moved to more available place for the people.