"We have no intention of taking the associate membership away", Strauss said in a luncheon speech to the American Business Club.
He was referring to a decision by the American Embassy Community Association, which manages the embassy's commissary, , cafeteria, swimming pool, video club and recreational facilities. The association's board recently voted to eliminate the associate membership category after Dec. 31 because of overuse.
A statement released from the embassy press office after the board's decision stated that the embassy would "consider other proposals" and consult a team of State Department inspectors making a routine inspection of the embassy and the housing compound this month.
Strauss, who celebrated his 74th birthday Monday and plans to retire next month, said "everything is in place" to maintain the associate membership category after he leaves.
"They understand that you are part of the family", he said. He added that non-diplomats should anticipate some compromises and may have to forego lunch in the embassy cafeteria, because of overuse.
But he urged the business community to "tell all your friends" that they
may continue to hold associate memberships.
The ambassador said he had been deluged with mail since reports spread that the association had decided to allow only diplomats to use the facilities.
According to a board member, there are about 400 associate members and another 400 or so full members.
Both pay the same fees to use all the facilities, except the commissary, which is restricted to diplomats only.
The U. S. Embassy in Moscow is the only American embassy in the world that has an associate category, said one board member.
It was created in the mid-1980s as a courtesy to American journalists and business people at a time when few Western shops or recreational facilities existed in Moscow.
In recent months, the association board has been wrestling with the associate category. Those in favor of dropping it said they were responding to complaints from full members that the facilities were overcrowded and that there was no provision for the associate membership category in State Department regulations.
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