First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for European Affairs Bekim Sali has strongly reacted to a statement by Serbian Minister Snezhana Paunović, who expressed support for the ethnic cleansing of Kosovo Albanians. Sali described the position as unacceptable and contrary to European principles.
In his response, he stressed that Paunović’s statement cannot be treated as an individual opinion, political rhetoric or an interpretation of the past.
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According to Sali, ethnic cleansing constitutes a crime and remains one of the deepest wounds in the region’s recent history. For this reason, any attempt to justify it, praise it or present it as a missed opportunity is, in his view, morally unacceptable and politically dangerous.
He underlined that Kosovo is a sovereign, democratic and independent state, recognised by the democratic world. In this context, Sali said that neither threatening statements, political projects nor old alliances can undermine the freedom, independence and right of the people of Kosovo to decide their own future.
Referring to Aleksandar Vučić, whom he described as Ali Ahmeti’s friend in the “Open Balkan” project, Sali stated that he has pursued a political approach seen as undermining Kosovo’s state interests. He added that today the need for Kosovo to firmly defend its sovereignty and prevent the return of policies that have produced conflict, violence and suffering in the past is even clearer.
Sali believes that such statements directly contradict European values, respect for human rights and efforts towards peace and stability in the region.
According to him, the future of Southeast European countries should be based on the aspiration for EU integration, justice, mutual respect and equality among sovereign states, rather than on threats, denials and nostalgia for policies that have brought war and destruction.
