Serbians angry at Trump family deal for site of NATO bombing
To the dismay of the residents, a bombed-out building in Belgrade that has served as a national emblem of the 1999 NATO assaults on Serbia may soon be transformed into a luxurious hotel funded by Donald Trump’s son-in-law.
Jared Kushner, who also advised his father-in-law during his administration in the United States, announced in mid-March his ambitions to invest in premium real estate in Serbia, including the former Yugoslav army headquarters.
Serbian opposition member of parliament Aleksandar Jovanovic Cuta and a New York Times investigation showed that the Serbian government planned to transfer the building and adjacent property to a corporation owned by Kushner.
Three massive glass skyscrapers are expected to replace the structure, which is located a short distance from Serbia’s foreign and defence ministries, according to leaked designs.
According to the New York Times, the 99-year lease was provided to Kushner’s business at no cost.
Due to its symbolic significance for the 1999 NATO aerial bombing campaign conducted by the United States that ended the Kosovo War, the building’s sale is a contentious topic among the people of Serbia.