The Permanent Mission of Afghanistan to the United Nations has a lovely new apartment. According to two deeds filed Friday, the group spent $4,235,000 on a 2,840-square-foot apartment at Trump World Tower, plus a $5.4 million commercial space at 633 Third Avenue.
H.E. Zahir Tanin, whose title is Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, Permanent Representative of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan to the United Nations, is listed in the deeds. “We did purchase a residence for the ambassador,” his assistant said. She said the office space is “going to be used both for the Consulate and the Permanent Mission to the United Nations. We are two separate things, but they’re both part of the government of Afghanistan, and it was the government of Afghanistan that’s making these purchases.”
She isn’t sure who the country’s real estate broker is, or who had the honor of picking the budget or the locale. “I think a lot of this was decided with Afghanistan, with the government in Kabul. But who had the say I don’t know.”
The Warburg listing for the condo is exceptionally poetic. “Sunshine, peacefulness and views define this beautiful high floor corner residence,” it begins, “which lays claim to marvelous southern views of the Chrysler and Empire State buildings as well as long range vistas of the East River and beyond.” The listing says that the three-bedroom’s design is chic and smart; that its study/dining room and eat-in kitchen are “elegantly refined for comfortable living”; that the cabinetry is “tailored mahogany”; that the building has “private Pilates and massage rooms”; and that the corner apartment’s layout is “the most desired” in the building.
It’s a tad unsettling that a country that’s more or less near apocalyptic has a New York apartment that’s elegantly refined for comfort. “I’ve been working in the area for years,” listing broker Robert E. Doernberg said Friday. “A lot of governments buy. It’s not a big deal to me.”
mabelson@observer.com
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