THE TENSION: Pentagon Announces Partial Installation Realignment In Germany

Focus on Defense:

WASHINGTON, April 17, 2009 -- The following news release made available by the U.S. Defense Department Friday is the text of a statement regarding a installation realignment in Germany.

The Department of Defense announced today the United States will return a vacant portion of the Mark Twain Housing Area in Heidelberg, Germany, to the host nation in 2009.

The return involves eight vacant buildings, each with 24 military family housing units. The affected buildings are collocated in a separate area of Mark Twain Village and have been determined excess by the Department of Defense.

The return of this site will have no impact on U.S. military personnel or employees.

Installation Management Command Europe will begin the process of returning the housing area to the host nation. Current annual operating costs of these buildings are approximately $1.6 million.

The United States coordinated this action with host nation officials before announcement.