What's happened
Jared Kushner's investment firm, Affinity Partners, has secured a 99-year permit to develop a $500 million luxury hotel complex on the site of the former Yugoslav Ministry of Defense in Belgrade. The deal, announced by the Serbian government, has sparked controversy due to the site's historical significance, as it was bombed by NATO forces in 1999. Opposition groups are planning protests against the project, which aims to transform the bombed-out buildings into a high-rise hotel, luxury apartments, office spaces, and shops.
Why it matters
This development is significant as it involves a high-profile figure, Jared Kushner, and a historically sensitive site in Belgrade. The project has the potential to boost the local economy by attracting international visitors and investments. However, it also stirs strong emotions due to the site's association with the NATO bombing campaign in 1999. The controversy surrounding the deal highlights the ongoing tensions between Serbia and Western countries, as well as the challenges of balancing economic development with historical preservation.
What the papers say
According to Politico, the deal has faced outrage in Serbia due to the building's historical significance, with many viewing it as a symbol of a Washington-led bombing campaign. The Independent reports that opposition groups are planning protests against the project, emphasizing the site's importance as a symbol of Serbia's resistance against NATO aggression. The New York Times highlights the involvement of Richard Grenell, a former Trump administration aide, in proposing the redevelopment of the site, and notes that the project is backed by the Saudi Arabian sovereign wealth fund.
How we got here
The site of the former Yugoslav Ministry of Defense in Belgrade was bombed by NATO forces in 1999 during the Serbia-Kosovo war. The conflict arose from ethnic tensions between Serbian forces and ethnic Albanian separatists in Kosovo. The bombed-out buildings have remained vacant for 25 years, becoming a potent symbol of Serbia's resistance against NATO. Jared Kushner's interest in the site dates back to 2013 when Donald Trump considered building a hotel there. The recent deal with Kushner's firm, Affinity Partners, aims to revitalize the area and contribute to Belgrade's development.
Common question
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Belgrade is the capital and largest city of Serbia. It is located at the confluence of the Sava and Danube rivers and the crossroads of the Pannonian Plain and the Balkan Peninsula.
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Donald John Trump is an American politician, media personality, and businessman who served as the 45th president of the United States from 2017 to 2021.
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Jared Corey Kushner is an American investor, real-estate developer, and newspaper publisher who is currently senior advisor to his father-in-law, Donald Trump, the President of the United States.
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Serbia, officially the Republic of Serbia, is a landlocked country situated at the crossroads of Central and Southeast Europe in the southern Pannonian Plain and the central Balkans.
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