The State Department has announced the U-S embassy in Kabul, Afghanistan will reopen Sunday for the first time in 12 years.
U-S special envoy to Afghanistan, James Dobbins, will officially re-inaugurate what will, for now, be called the U-S liaison office.
It will be elevated to embassy status when the United States decides to recognize the new interim Afghan government that takes office December 22nd.
The flag that will be hoisted Sunday will be the same one that flew over the building in 1989, the last time the United States occupied the embassy. It abandoned Kabul during the chaos following the Soviet withdrawal.
The Taleban burned the looted the building this past September.
U-S Marines have carefully inspected the building and declared it free of mines, bombs, and other booby traps.
But they say it needs significant repairs, especially with the electric and plumbing systems.