Vesic signs contract with Kushner’s company to develop former military building
Serbian Minister of Construction, Transport and Infrastructure Goran Vesic signed Wednesday, on behalf of the Serbian Government, an “Agreement on Revitalization of the Complex of the Former Federal Secretariat for National Defense,” the so-called General Staff building in central Belgrade, with the company Affinity Global Development, said the Ministry in a press release.
“The Serbian Government has chosen a reputable American company as a partner in this venture, which will invest in the revitalization of the former Federal Secretariat for National Defense complex,” said Vesic.
He added that the contract was not signed when information appeared in public that the complex would be “revitalized,” at which time he said the public would be notified when that happens. He explained that everything that will be done as part of the “revitalization of the complex” will be in accordance with the laws of Serbia and in cooperation with the government and all relevant institutions in the country responsible for urban planning and protection of cultural heritage.
The investment firm Affinity Global Development is owned by Jared Kushner, the son-in-law of former US President Donald Trump. As the New York Times recently reported, Kushner is a prominent figure in American politics, and has his sights set on the Balkans, with plans for three projects in Albania and Serbia.
“We will restore the building after 25 years since it was destroyed in the bombing. For a quarter of a century, no one, before this Government, had thought to restore the complex. Once this space is revitalized, it will contribute to the development of Belgrade and Serbia,” the Ministry quoted Vesic as saying.
Vesic particularly emphasized, due to misinformation that appeared in the public, that the Serbian Government did not sell the land on which the buildings bombed in 1999 are located, but, as stated in the contract, “it leased it for 99 years.”
“The investor has undertaken the obligation to return the land and what has been built by that time to Serbia without compensation, if they do not complete the investment within the period specified in the contract. The land remains the property of the Republic of Serbia,” said Vesic.
He added that, under the contract, the investor has the obligation to build a memorial complex dedicated to the victims of the 1999 NATO aggression on the same plot. “Unfortunately, Serbia still does not have such a complex even after a quarter of a century,” Vesic was quoted by the ministry as saying.
“The memorial complex will be financed by investors and will be owned by the Republic of Serbia, which will decide on the program content of the complex and manage it,” the minister said.
Vesic signs contract with Kushner’s company to develop former military building