The Republic of Macedonia plans to use the former Yugoslavian embassy building in Canberra

The Canberra Times reports that the Republic of Macedonia has taken control of an empty building in Red Hill, a suburb of Australia's capital, Canberra, which used to operate as the Yugoslavian embassy. The move is part of an international carve-up of the former socialist state's assets.

The Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is now assessing whether it can provide adequate security in the area so that the Macedonian Government can pursue plans to turn the building into a new embassy.

The former republics that made up the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia have debated for years how to share the diplomatic spoils of the dissolved state. Two weeks ago Yugoslavian successor states Macedonia, Serbia, Croatia, Slovenia, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Montenegro finally reached agreement on the first allocation of the diplomatic property. Under the deal a range of buildings around the world are in the process of changing hands, including an embassy in Prague, which will be taken by Serbia, and an embassy in Vienna, which Serbia will transfer to Croatia.

Flags bearing Macedonia's stylised yellow star atop a red background have been hoisted in front of the building in Canberra. A Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade spokeswoman said the embassy's request to move its embassy must now go through approval processes. Consultations will also take place with the Australian Federal Police to ensure that the embassy is in an area which can be given appropriate protection consistent with obligations under the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations to protect the premises of diplomatic missions. It was not certain how long the approval process might take.

The next round of transfers of Yugoslavian diplomatic property will be conducted in September.

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