On July 12, 2026, Snezhana Paunoviq, while serving as a minister in the Government of Serbia, said in an interview with the Serbian outlet “Kurir”: “If I were Slobodan Milosevic, I would have carried out the ethnic cleansing of Kosovo in 1998.”

Kamberi says the minister has no authority to take action in Kosovo, but that her claims, in his view, directly affect the Albanian community’s sense of security and peace in the Presevo Valley.

According to him, the concern is deepened by Paunoviq’s institutional position, as she oversees public administration, civil registries and electoral registers. Kamberi warns that any policy affecting citizens’ status or the demographic composition of the area would be considered a serious threat.

Kamberi stresses that the stated ambition to displace two million Kosovo Albanians cannot be carried out by the minister in Kosovo, but he believes that her responsibilities in local government and oversight of citizens’ status and electoral registers could give her room to act in the Presevo Valley. He says that the silence of the Serbian Government, the president’s attempts to downplay the statement, and the role of the leader of the Socialist Party, who is also deputy prime minister and interior minister, make the fear tangible.

He emphasizes that Albanians in the Presevo Valley will not surrender in the face of any threat that may come from Belgrade, whether real or imaginary. According to Kamberi, threats against Kosovo are imaginary, while in the Presevo Valley the minister has powers that could be used for inhumane and uncivilized actions that could lead to a reduction in the number of Albanians. He says the political and rights-based struggle will continue, with firmer and more persistent demands, in line with the fundamental principles of the European Union.

The Albanian MP argues that statements by Serbian President Aleksandar Vuciq distancing himself from Paunoviq’s views are not enough, as their downplaying, in his view, shows that part of Serbia’s political establishment remains tied to the political legacy of the 1990s.

Kamberi says this approach reflects a mindset that regrets Milosevic did not finish what he had started. According to him, this mindset has not reflected on the bloody wars, the damage they caused to Serbia itself, and the fact that the mistake was fatal first and foremost for Serbs.

He adds that although the president and prime minister have made statements that in some way distance themselves from Paunoviq, attempts to soften the weight of her words show that the Serbian authorities have not broken away from Milosevic’s mindset. Kamberi describes Vuciq and Daciq as the political sons of leaders such as Milosevic and Seselj, saying that more concrete steps cannot be expected from such an establishment.

According to him, Serbia has for years denied the genocidal policy carried out in the 1990s, relativized crimes, denied the genocide in Srebrenica and crimes committed in Kosovo, while attempting to portray the wars of that period as the responsibility of other parties as well, and not only of Serbia.

Kamberi says he has already initiated procedures for the dismissal of Serbian minister Jelena Paunoviq.

He aims to secure the signatures of opposition MPs from pro-European parties, who would join his parliamentary group’s request to remove the minister from the government.

According to Kamberi, the decision to dismiss Paunoviq is determined not only by the parliamentary procedure, but also by the political assessment Serbian President Aleksandar Vuciq will make of the damage her remaining in government could cause the authorities.

He believes the reaction of the European Union will also play an important role, calling on the EU not to limit itself to statements but to take a more concrete position.

Kamberi says the dismissal could happen and that he has launched the procedure for this purpose. He hopes that a considerable number of signatures from opposition MPs of pro-European parties will be collected during the day to join the initiative of his parliamentary group.

However, he says it remains in Vuciq’s hands to assess how much damage Paunoviq’s staying in office could cause the government. Kamberi also calls for a response from the European Union and raises the question of whether it will be limited to a statement, as in previous cases, or will be accompanied by concrete demands for her dismissal.

Referring to an earlier statement by Ms. Brnabiq, according to which Albanians are people who came down from the mountains, he says there were weak reactions at the time, but no concrete action. Kamberi expects the European Union to defend the principles on which it was built by strongly condemning and showing zero tolerance for policies that promote ethnic cleansing, war crimes, the glorification of war criminals, the glorification of war crimes, and the denial of genocide and crimes committed.

Kamberi says there are few figures on Serbia’s political scene whose positions differ from those of Minister Jelena Paunoviq.

According to him, part of Serbia’s parliamentary opposition, particularly those opposing integration into the European Union and supporting closer cooperation with Russia, share similar approaches with the authorities regarding the war past and the crimes of the 1990s.

He believes Paunoviq’s statement was not an emotional reaction, but an open and sincere expression of beliefs that, according to him, exist among a large part of Serbian politics and the governments Serbia has had over the years.

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During the visit, the Head of State held separate meetings with the Mayor of the Municipality of Presevo, Ardita Sinani, the Mayor of the Municipality of Bujanovac, Arbër Pajaziti, the chairman of the Albanian National Council, Enkel Rexhepi, as well as the only Albanian MP in the Serbian Parliament, Shaip Kamberi.

During these meetings, they discussed addressing the concerns of Albanians in the Valley, strengthening the unity of the Albanian factor, and projects aimed at helping young people.

President Begaj delivered messages on cooperation, political unity, and joint efforts to ensure respect for the rights of Albanians living in the Presevo Valley.

The Head of State encouraged the political leaders of the area to unite whenever the national interest and the protection of the rights of Albanians in the Valley are at stake.

Begaj also conveyed these messages during his speech to citizens in Presevo on the occasion of the opening of the Albanian Book Fair 2026.

He also guaranteed Albania’s support in addressing the issue of the Presevo Valley, fair representation in institutions, concerns over the deactivation of addresses, as well as the right to use the mother tongue and national symbols.

“The rights and freedoms of Albanians in the Presevo Valley and wherever they live must be respected. Albanians must live here, must not be discriminated against, the Albanian language must be used without hesitation or fear, and culture, values, identity and traditions must be protected and promoted,” the President said.

Begaj reaffirmed that Albanians are a factor of peace and cooperation in the Western Balkans.

According to him, protecting the Albanian language and culture in Presevo is part of European standards on rights and cultural diversity.

“Albanian identity has been built on European values, on respect for freedom, human dignity, coexistence, the rule of law and a culture of dialogue. Therefore, protecting the Albanian language and culture in the Presevo Valley is not a matter of nostalgia, it is not only a national issue, it is part of the European system itself for the protection of rights, it is part of our vision as a nation for the future,” Begaj stressed.

In particular, the President addressed the young people of Presevo, inviting them to use Albanian not only as a family language, but also as the language of knowledge, profession, creativity and success.

“The Albanian language in these lands is a living and inalienable treasure, it is a strategic investment in the future of the nation. Use the Albanian language not only as the language of the family and to preserve tradition, but also as the language of knowledge, profession, creativity and your success here in the Valley,” he said.

The Head of State pledged that he would continue to be an advocate for the denied rights of Albanians in the Presevo Valley in every international institution and chancery.

“I want to assure you that the institution I represent will always remain a supporter of initiatives that strengthen cultural cooperation, promote books in the Albanian language, and build bridges of communication between Albanians wherever they live,” Begaj declared.

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