Strong reactions have followed in Kosovo after the latest statements by Serbian Minister Snezhana Paunoviq, who has now been declared persona non grata and is not allowed to enter Kosovo’s territory.
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Professor Muhamet Kelmendi believes her views reflect the continuity of Serbia’s official policy toward Kosovo. For this reason, he is calling for a more decisive response from the country’s institutions, both diplomatically and through the strengthening of Kosovo’s defense capabilities.
According to Kelmendi, declaring her persona non grata was the right decision, but it is not a sufficient measure. He is also calling for President Aleksandar Vučić and Minister Ivica Dačić to be barred from entering Kosovo, while the institutions should consider launching legal proceedings against Serbian officials who, according to him, spread racial hatred or make threatening statements.
He describes Sbezhana Pauković as a Serbian ultranationalist and links her to circles belonging to a generation of Serbian national fascists driven by revanchist views who have been involved in four wars and conflicts in the Balkans.
Kelmendi says her statement should not be viewed as an individual position because, according to him, it expresses the position of the Serbian government and state as a whole. He adds that Ivica Dačić, whom he calls a Serbian racist, has expressed the same approach through the statement: “Anyone who is not Serbian should leave for Albania.”
According to the professor, neither the government nor the opposition has any major Serbian political party whose position differs from the goal of reclaiming Kosovo and Serbianizing Dardanian territory. Under these circumstances, he considers it right to declare this figure persona non grata, but insists that the action should not end there.
He is calling on the Kosovo government to take measures against the Serbian government itself, President Vučić and Dačić. Kelmendi stresses that there is no reason to wait and that the Kosovo authorities should bar them from entering the country, as well as assess the possibility of legal proceedings against individuals who incite racial hatred or voice threats.
According to Kelmendi, the latest statements by Serbian officials demonstrate that the Serbian state has not changed its position toward Kosovo. He believes Serbia’s position is made clear precisely through the Serbian minister’s statement.
Kelmendi is calling for a response not only from Kosovo’s institutions, but also from the Albanian state, the European Union and the United States of America. In the face of threats he describes as radical and fascist, he says political clarity and institutional action are needed.
At the same time, he stresses that Kosovo must establish a police force and an army capable of defending the Republic. According to him, a military force of 4,000 soldiers is not sufficient for the country’s defense needs, so Kosovo requires a larger active army and a capable, well-equipped police force.
The professor is also calling for improved working conditions in the security sector and for incomes to be adjusted in line with the economic situation. He expresses hope that the next government will resolve these issues, warning that time is passing quickly and that the situation requires vigilance, as well as military and institutional preparations to defend the country.
