Serbia greenlights contentious development plan connected to former President Trump
Serbia's legislative body has passed a law that paves the way for a controversial development venture led by former President Trump's family member Jared Kushner in Serbia's capital city.
Kushner's company Affinity Partners has planned to build a luxury hotel and residential project on the location of the previous Yugoslav Army central command.
The ruined edifice, which was struck by Nato forces in 1999 throughout its intervention to halt the Serbian military operation in Kosovo, holds emotional meaning to certain groups who see it as a monument and symbol of continuing resistance to the international coalition.
The Serbian Head of State Aleksandar Vucic, who has sought close relations with the former president, has supported the development despite demonstrations and constitutional disputes.
Previously, the national administration revoked the property of its conservation classification and approved a long-term rental agreement with Kushner's company, which had set out designs for a $500 million development.
The ruling sparked public gatherings and initiated an investigation into whether a national government representative had manipulated documentation used throughout the procedure to alter the building's designation.
In a conversation earlier this year, President Aleksandar Vucic supported the initiative, stating "it's important to overcome the legacy from 1999".
He elaborated: "We are prepared to develop stronger ties with the US – I believe that is extremely significant for this country."
The delayed development procedure reached a climax recently when the president's faction – which maintains a dominant in the legislature – proceeded with a designated ballot on developing the site and prevailed.
Opposition representatives have described the ruling illegal, including Aleksandar Jovanovic, who described it as a "offense", and asserted the significant building would be substituted with "gambling venues and Jacuzzis".
Meanwhile, centre-left representative Marinika Tepic commented the administration was jeopardizing the nation's history "to satisfy Trump".
The approval of the law has also been questioned by design experts, and comes after Transparency Serbia, an integrity institution, raised apprehensions about state-backed projects.
Based on national news accounts before his first presidential run, Trump earlier considered constructing a accommodation venue in Belgrade.
In March, the developer informed reporters he was unfamiliar of his relative's reported past consideration.
The resolution to enable progress for the project occurs as the president's government attempts to preserve good ties with each of the United States and Russia.
Serbia has been impacted by the two the former president's economic policies and sanctions on Russian interests in the country, comprising on its only oil-refinery, the mainly Russian Federation-held Nafna Industrika Srbije (NIS).