From left: Dusan Basara, Dragana Mladenovic, Zoran Stojkovic and Vida Petrovic-Skero
The agreement was signed by head of the Serbian Directorate for Joint Affairs Dragana Mladenovic and Director of Ratko Mitrovic Dedinje Dusan Basara.
The cost of the construction works is 1.2 billion dinars and the first phase is expected to be completed by January 1, 2007 with the completion of the part of the building which will host the Court of Appeals. The entire building should be completed by August 1, 2007.
The signing of the agreement was attended by Minister of Justice Zoran Stojkovic who said that this is one of the crucial buildings for the court system because all courts at republic level will be in one place, which is important for the creation of a new network and rationalisation of courts.
Stojkovic said that the reconstruction of the building, damaged during the NATO bombing campaign in 1999, will not be a great expense for the state because the first part of the job - project design was financed by Germany, and Norway will assist with donations in one part of the work.
Apart from the reconstruction and renovation of the existing space, the main project envisages construction of an additional 7,500 square metres in the building's atrium, so the entire space will cover 29,500 square metres. Some 500 offices, 40 court rooms, conference halls and follow-up premises will be located on 11 floors.