The Serbian government will also hand over the Seventh Regiment Barracks in Belgrade free of charge to the company "Affinity Global Development", owned by Jared Kushner, son-in-law of US President Donald Trump, which will build a hotel in the building and name it after its father-in-law, Radar reported today.
As stated, the former Minister of Construction, Transport and Infrastructure, Goran Vesić, who signed a contract with Kouchner's company on behalf of the Serbian Government for the land and remains of the Serbian Army General Staff complex in the center of Belgrade, "expected that the Seventh Regiment Barracks, which is also a cultural monument of national importance and is located on the same plot, would also pass into its hands."
It was pointed out that this was another secret contract, "which the government concluded without any economic logic and from which the state will not benefit in any way" and that it was signed "despite the opposition of the professional public and citizens."
It is recalled that the General Staff complex, located on the corner of Kneza Miloša and Nemanjina streets, was destroyed in the NATO bombing in 1999.
Radar stated that nothing is currently being done on the grounds of the complex, but that the lessee of the land, namely Kushner's company "Afiniti Global Development", is developing plans and the project itself.
The barracks of the 7th Regiment, as Radar stated, "judging by the tenders, fortunately will not be demolished, but rather the Trump International Hotel will be opened right there."
This can be seen in the pictures of the future appearance of the hotel that have been published on the official website, and among the listed contact information, in addition to the email, the official address of the future complex is also highlighted - Nemanjina 15, where the Barracks of the Seventh Regiment are located, Radar reported.
This building has an area of about 3.000 square meters, the right of use is held by the Ministry of Defense, and its owner is the state of Serbia.
Radar writes that although construction of the towers on the site of the General Staff has not yet begun, pre-sales of the apartments that will be located in them have been officially announced and could begin in as little as four months, because the official website trumpbelgrade.com states that pre-sales of real estate in the Serbian capital will begin this summer.
It was also officially announced that the luxury complex in the center of Belgrade will be named Trump Tower and that this decision was made after Donald Trump's victory in the US presidential elections.
Radar also recalled earlier announcements about the conversion of the former military complex, stating that during 2017, Goran Vesić, then deputy mayor of Belgrade, said that he had agreed to exchange the barracks with Aleksandar Vulin, then minister of defense, and that the idea of the City of Belgrade was to create "a city library there, a place with reading rooms and cafes, where visitors can spend the whole day."
Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić also spoke about the Seventh Regiment Barracks in April last year, stating that he hoped that the Ministry of Defense and the General Staff would be relocated as soon as possible, "so that the building would shine with a new splendor," Radar recalled.
It is also recalled that the contract, which the Government of Serbia signed with the company "Afiniti Global Development" in May 2024, was not presented to the public, despite the insistence of the media.
Since it has not been published, all the details of the project are not fully known, but some parts have been announced.
After signing the contract, Vesić stated that the state did not donate the land, but leased it for 99 years, and that, according to the contract, the investor is obliged to build and finance a Memorial Complex on the same plot of land that will be dedicated to all victims of the NATO bombing and will be owned by the state of Serbia.
Radar stated that "the former minister failed to say that the plots were leased without compensation, and that the lease right can be converted into ownership, also without compensation."
Earlier, Kouchner said that this is an investment of 500 million euros and that Serbia will receive 22 percent of the profits.
According to the project, Trump's hotel will have 175 rooms, and the construction of three towers with more than 1.500 residential units is planned, while the entire complex will have more than 250.000 square meters.
"What can be expected in the near future is the formation of a joint company between the state of Serbia and Kouchner's company, and as the New York Times reported, the project will also include the company Eagle Hills, which is a co-owner of Belgrade on the Water," Radar reported.
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