Serbian List Remains Silent on Paunović’s Statements About “Ethnic Cleansing” in Kosovo

Even after a week, the Serbian List has made no public statement regarding the views expressed by Serbia’s Minister of Public Administration and Local Self-Government, Snezhana Paunović, who said that if she had been in Slobodan Milošević’s place in 1998, she would have “ethnically cleansed Kosovo.”

The political party representing the majority of Kosovo Serbs, known for its traditionally close ties with Belgrade, has so far issued no official reaction from its leaders on the matter.

Paunović made the statement last weekend during a programme on Serbia’s Kurir outlet. KosovaPress reported on Monday on her fascist statements, which were subsequently met with reactions from political actors in the region and beyond.

Kosovo’s institutions described the Serbian minister’s words as incitement to hatred and glorification of war crimes. As a result, Paunović was declared persona non grata, and a criminal complaint was filed against her over the statements she made.

Her views were also condemned by countries in the region, as well as by the European Union, which stressed that there can be no room for rhetoric that promotes or justifies ethnic cleansing. Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos condemned the statement and said she was astonished that Paunović continues to serve as a minister in the Serbian government.

KoSSev editor-in-chief Tatjana Lazarević also spoke today about the Serbian List’s silence. According to her, Paunović’s statement is a typical case of the use of hate speech, KosovaPress reports.

On Thursday, an official request was also submitted for her dismissal from the post of minister in Serbia.