Contract on renovation of the former SSNO signed with Affinity Global Development

The agreement on the renovation of the complex of the former Yugoslav Federal Secretariat for National Defense (SSNO) was signed by the Minister of Construction, Transport and Infrastructure of Serbia Goran Vesic and the company Affinity Global Development, according to the official website of the Government of Serbia.

On that occasion, Vesic pointed out that the Government has chosen a "reputable US company" as a partner in this venture, which will invest in the renovation of the former SSNO complex, located on the corner of Kneza Milosa and Nemanjina streets.

He explained that everything that will be done within the renovation of the complex will be done in accordance with Serbian laws and in cooperation with the Government and with all relevant institutions in the country, responsible for urban planning and the protection of cultural heritage.

- We will restore the building after 25 years after it was destroyed in the bombing, and when this area is revitalized, it will contribute to the overall development of Belgrade and Serbia - said the minister.

Vesic especially emphasized, due to misinformation that appeared in the public, that the Government of Serbia did not sell the land on which the building is located, but, as stated in the contract, leased the land 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 the investment is not complete within the period specified in the contract. The land remains the property of the Republic of Serbia, specified the minister.

Also, as he added, as per the contract, the investor has the obligation to build a memorial complex dedicated to all the victims of 1999 NATO aggression on the same plot, which Serbia, unfortunately, still does not have even after a quarter of a century. He emphasized that 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.

According to his words, the appearance of the future memorial complex will be determined at an international public architectural competition, to which all interested architects will be able to submit their ideas.

CEO of Affinity Global Development Company, Asher Abehsera, said that the project includes a unique aspect of cooperation in which Serbian architects and designers will be invited to submit their ideas for the memorial center.

- In this way, the reconstruction not only represents a fusion of Serbian and American innovation, but also shows respect for domestic artistic expression. Reconstruction does not only mean the construction of buildings, but also the construction of bridges between cultures, respect for the past and creation of foundations for a prosperous future - Abehsera concluded.

Ministarstvo građevinarstva, saobraćaja i infrastrukture Republike Srbije

Ministry of Construction

Transport and Infrastructure

Affinity Global Development

Goran Vesic

Asher Abehsera

Yugoslav Federal Secretariat for National Defense

SSNO

contract on the renovation of the complex of the former Yugoslav Federal Secretariat for National Defense

NATO bombing

memorial complex dedicated to the victims of NATO attacks