Serbian Minister Snezhana Paunović has sparked strong political and international reactions after declaring that, had she been in Slobodan Milošević’s position in 1999, she would have “ethnically cleansed Kosovo.”

Instead of distancing herself from the statement or apologizing, Paunović has deepened the scandal. She told Serbian media that even today she would “ethnically cleanse Kosovo of terrorists,” while claiming that her words had been taken out of context and referred only to KLA soldiers.

Speaking to “Bota sot,” political affairs expert Nehat Hyseni said the statement carries serious political and institutional consequences. According to him, the reaction from US Congressman Joe Wilson clearly demonstrates that tolerance for the glorification of the criminal policies of the past is diminishing.

Hyseni said the assertion by Serbian Minister Snezhana Paunović that, had she been in Slobodan Milošević’s position in 1999, she would have “ethnically cleansed Kosovo,” ranks among the most serious political statements made in the Balkans in recent years. According to him, it cannot be regarded merely as a verbal provocation or an act of personal irresponsibility. The fact that she is a member of the Serbian government gives the position an institutional dimension and raises serious questions about the political, moral and international direction of the Serbian state.

He stressed that the immediate reaction from US Congressman Joe Wilson, who called the statement “disgusting” and urged the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly not to hold its annual session in Belgrade in 2027, should not be viewed merely as an emotional response. According to Hyseni, it is an especially significant political message, indicating that Euro-Atlantic democracies are losing patience with the glorification of the criminal policies of the 1990s and Serbia’s refusal to confront its past.

Hyseni also emphasized that praise for ethnic cleansing cannot fall within the bounds of democratic debate because it concerns one of the gravest violations of international law.

According to him, freedom of expression is part of democratic societies, but it does not give individuals the right to glorify crimes against humanity. Ethnic cleansing is neither a political opinion nor a historical alternative that can be legitimately discussed. It is among the gravest violations of international humanitarian law and is directly linked to war crimes, crimes against humanity and, under certain circumstances, genocide.

Hyseni recalled that, during 1998–1999, Slobodan Milošević’s regime carried out an organized campaign in Kosovo to expel Albanians en masse. More than 800,000 Albanians were forcibly driven from their homes, thousands of civilians were killed, hundreds of villages were burned, and massacres were committed that are now documented by the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia. Consequently, when a Serbian government minister says she would have carried that criminal project through to completion, she is essentially expressing regret that it was not fully accomplished. According to him, this is no longer a matter of historical debate or political interpretation of the past, but an attempt to relativize and legitimize a criminal policy with serious legal and humanitarian consequences.

In Hyseni’s assessment, one of the main problems facing Serbian institutions and society remains the lack of an honest reckoning with the past.

He said contemporary Serbia still faces the serious problem of failing to reflect sincerely on its past. Unlike Germany after World War II, Serbia has yet to undertake a comprehensive institutional and social process to examine the crimes of the Milošević regime. Instead, public discourse continues to rehabilitate figures from that regime, while war crimes are denied or relativized and the rulings of international courts are called into question. For this reason, Snezhana Paunović’s statement cannot be seen as a personal gaffe or an isolated incident, but as a sign of a political culture that has yet to fully break with the nationalist and chauvinist mindset that produced the bloody wars of the 1990s.

It is precisely in this context, according to Hyseni, that the reaction from US Congressman Joe Wilson carries particular political weight. It comes from a politician with extensive experience in Euro-Atlantic security and goes beyond the moral condemnation of the statement. By proposing that Serbia not host the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly session in 2027, he clearly expresses, for the first time, the view that the glorification of ethnic cleansing should have political and diplomatic consequences. Hyseni regarded this as a qualitative shift in the approach the international community may adopt toward rhetoric that rehabilitates the crimes of the past.

In conclusion, Hyseni called for an institutional response from the international community, warning that allowing such statements to go unpunished would set a dangerous precedent.

He warned that if the international community remains silent, it could create the impression that apologism for ethnic cleansing carries no political accountability. A state aspiring to join the European Union cannot accept ministers or senior officials expressing admiration or regret for policies condemned by both history and international justice. In many European countries, Holocaust denial or the glorification of Nazism is punishable by law. According to him, praise for ethnic cleansing in the Balkans should be viewed by the same standard, as it strikes at the legal and moral foundations upon which postwar Europe was built. Calling for diplomatic consequences is not political revenge, but serves to protect the international legal order and the fundamental principles of human rights.

Hyseni recalled that the OSCE was founded on the principles of democracy, security, cooperation and respect for human rights. If a country whose representatives publicly praise ethnic cleansing is allowed to host a session of this organization without facing an institutional response, then the credibility of the OSCE itself is put at risk. He concluded in his remarks to “Bota sot” that international institutions cannot remain neutral.

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Strong political and international reactions have followed remarks by Serbian Minister Snezhana Paunović, who said that, had she been in Slobodan Milošević’s position in 1999, she would have “ethnically cleansed Kosovo.”

Paunović not only refused to retract her position or apologize, but further aggravated the situation. Speaking to Serbian media, she said that even today she would “ethnically cleanse Kosovo of terrorists.” At the same time, the minister claimed that her words had been taken out of context and referred only to KLA soldiers.

Commenting on the matter for “Bota sot,” political affairs analyst Nehat Hyseni said the statement carries serious political and institutional consequences. According to him, the reaction from U.S. Congressman Joe Wilson clearly shows that tolerance for the glorification of the criminal policies of the past is diminishing.

Hyseni said the assertion by Serbian Minister Snezhana Paunović that she would have “ethnically cleansed Kosovo” in 1999 had she been in Slobodan Milošević’s position ranks among the most serious political statements made in the Balkans in recent years. According to him, it cannot be regarded merely as a verbal provocation or an irresponsible personal position. The fact that it came from a member of the Serbian government gives the statement an institutional dimension and raises major questions about the political, moral and international direction of the Serbian state.

He said the immediate reaction from U.S. Congressman Joe Wilson should not be viewed simply as an emotional response. The congressman called the statement “disgusting” and urged the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly not to hold its 2027 annual session in Belgrade. For Hyseni, this is a political message of particular significance, demonstrating that Euro-Atlantic democracies are losing patience with the glorification of the criminal policies of the 1990s and Serbia’s refusal to confront its past.

Hyseni went on to stress that the glorification of ethnic cleansing cannot be placed within the framework of democratic debate, as it represents one of the most serious violations of international law.

According to him, freedom of expression is part of democratic societies, but it does not imply the right to praise crimes against humanity. Ethnic cleansing, he stressed, is neither a political position nor a historical alternative that can be legitimately debated. It is among the gravest violations of international humanitarian law and is directly linked to crimes against humanity, war crimes and, under certain circumstances, genocide.

Hyseni recalled that Slobodan Milošević’s regime carried out an organized campaign for the mass expulsion of Albanians in Kosovo during 1998–1999. More than 800,000 Albanians were forcibly driven from their homes, thousands of civilians lost their lives, hundreds of villages were burned, and massacres were committed that are now part of the records of the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia.

For this reason, according to him, a Serbian government minister who says she would have completed that criminal project is, in essence, expressing regret that it was not fully carried out. Hyseni said this goes beyond historical discussion or a political interpretation of the past and becomes the relativization and legitimization of a criminal policy whose humanitarian and legal consequences were severe.

He also said that one of the main challenges facing Serbian society and institutions remains the lack of an honest reckoning with the past.

According to Hyseni, contemporary Serbia still faces the serious problem of failing to reflect honestly on its past. Unlike Germany after World War II, Serbia has yet to undergo a genuine institutional and societal process of examining the crimes of the Milošević regime. On the contrary, figures from that regime continue to be rehabilitated in the public sphere, while war crimes are denied or downplayed and the rulings of international courts are called into question.

Under such circumstances, Hyseni said Snezhana Paunović’s statement cannot be viewed as an isolated case or a personal gaffe. According to him, it reflects a political culture that has not fully distanced itself from the nationalist and chauvinist mindset that led to the bloody wars of the 1990s.

It is precisely in this context that he attached particular political importance to U.S. Congressman Joe Wilson’s reaction. Hyseni stressed that the response came from a politician with extensive experience in Euro-Atlantic security and went beyond a moral condemnation of the statement. According to him, the proposal that Serbia not host the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly session in 2027 clearly expresses, for the first time, the position that glorifying ethnic cleansing should carry political and diplomatic consequences. He described this as a qualitative change in how the international community may respond to rhetoric that rehabilitates the crimes of the past.

In conclusion, Hyseni called on international institutions to respond, warning that the absence of consequences would set a dangerous precedent.

He said that if the international community remains silent in the face of statements of this kind, it will create the impression that advocacy of ethnic cleansing can go without political accountability. According to him, a state seeking membership in the European Union cannot tolerate ministers or senior officials who express admiration or regret for policies condemned both by history and international justice.

Hyseni noted that in many European countries, the glorification of Nazism or Holocaust denial is considered a criminal offense. According to him, the glorification of ethnic cleansing in the Balkans should be treated in the same way because it strikes at the moral and legal foundations on which postwar Europe was built. He added that the call for diplomatic measures does not constitute political retaliation but is intended to protect the international legal order and the fundamental principles of human rights.

At the end of his statement to “Bota sot,” Hyseni recalled that the OSCE is founded on the principles of security, cooperation, democracy and respect for human rights. According to him, if a state whose representatives publicly praise ethnic cleansing is allowed to host a session of this organization without any institutional response, the OSCE’s very credibility will be put at risk. He concluded that international institutions cannot remain neutral.

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The stance of Serbian Minister Snezhana Paunović, who said that if she had been in Slobodan Milošević’s position in 1999 she would have undertaken “ethnic cleansing of Kosovo,” has triggered a wave of sharp backlash both in politics and on the international stage.

Instead of distancing herself from her words or offering an apology, Paunović further escalated the scandalous situation. In a statement to the Serbian media, she reiterated that she would “ethnically cleanse Kosovo of terrorists,” while simultaneously claiming that her words were misinterpreted and that they were aimed exclusively at the fighters of the Kosovo Liberation Army.

Contacted by “Bota sot,” political analyst Nehat Hyseni considered the statement an action with deep political and institutional implications. He described the reaction of U.S. Congressman Joe Wilson as a clear indicator that patience with the glorification of historical criminal policies is running out.

Hyseni assessed that the Serbian minister’s expression should not be seen as a mere provocation or an irresponsible individual stance. Coming from a member of the Serbian government cabinet, it carries institutional weight and casts serious doubts on Serbia’s political, ethical, and international orientation.

He described the immediate reaction of Congressman Wilson, who called the statement “disgusting” and requested that the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly cancel its annual session planned for Belgrade in 2027, as a powerful political message. According to him, this signal shows that Euro-Atlantic democracies are losing tolerance for the rehabilitation of the crimes of the 1990s and for Serbia’s refusal to confront its own past.

Deepening the analysis, Hyseni stressed that praise for ethnic cleansing cannot be disguised as democratic debate, because it concerns one of the most flagrant violations of global legal norms. He clarified that freedom of speech in a democracy does not extend to the glorification of crimes against humanity, and that ethnic cleansing is neither a political opinion nor a historical alternative to be legitimately discussed.

He recalled that the Milošević regime carried out a systematic operation of mass expulsion during the period 1998-1999, forcibly expelling over 800,000 Albanians from their lands, while thousands of civilians were massacred and hundreds of settlements were burned to the ground. These acts, as he noted, are documented by the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia. Therefore, when a minister of the current government expresses regret that this criminal project was not fully completed, she is relativizing and legitimizing a strategy with severe humanitarian and legal consequences.

According to Hyseni, Serbia’s inability to come to honest terms with its past constitutes one of the main obstacles for its society and state. He argued that unlike post-World War II Germany, official Belgrade has not undertaken a genuine process of institutional and societal reflection on the crimes of the Milošević era. On the contrary, the public sphere continues to rehabilitate figures of that system, deny or minimize war crimes, and oppose decisions of international courts.

In this context, Snezhana Paunović’s statement is not a coincidence or a personal mistake, but a symptom of a political culture that remains deeply anchored in the nationalist and chauvinistic logic that fueled the bloody conflicts of the end of the last century. That is why Congressman Wilson’s reaction is considered a turning point. His proposal that Serbia lose the right to host the OSCE Summit in 2027 marks a qualitative step, articulating for the first time the idea that the glorification of ethnic cleansing will be accompanied by diplomatic costs.

Concluding his analysis, Hyseni appealed for a strong institutional response from the international factor, warning of the dangerous precedent that would be created in case of silence. He stressed that no country aspiring to membership in the European Union should allow its ministers to express admiration for historically condemned policies, adding that the glorification of ethnic cleansing in the Balkans should be treated with the same severity as the praise of Nazism or Holocaust denial in many Western countries.

Hyseni concluded by emphasizing that the call for diplomatic sanctions is not revenge, but a defense of the international legal order and of the fundamental principles of human rights, raising the question of how the credibility of the OSCE can be preserved if a state whose representatives publicly advocate ethnic cleansing organizes a session of this organization without any consequences.

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Snezhana Paunović, who in 2025 became part of the Serbian Government, for more than a decade received dual income from the state — as a legislator and as the head of a pharmaceutical entity in Peja, Kosovo.

What makes the case problematic is the fact that the Peja Pharmaceutical Institute, which she headed, was legally closed by a government act in 2021.

Paunović herself signed the request to remove this entity from the official registers, according to materials reviewed by Radio Free Europe.

Despite this, her payment as director was not halted, continuing even after the institution had ceased to exist.

Over the 11 years she held this position, she benefited from a sum of around 146 thousand euros from the Serbian state coffers.

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The statement by Serbia’s Minister of Public Administration and Local Self-Government, Snezhana Paunović, that if she had been in the position of former Serbian President Slobodan Milošević in 1998, she would have “ethnically cleansed Kosovo,” has been strongly condemned by the European Union.

Her remarks prompted numerous reactions, as they were seen as a justification of rhetoric advocating ethnic cleansing and as a statement contrary to the principles on which the European Union is founded.

Responding to the issue, European Commission spokesperson Anitta Hipper said that the EU does not comment on individual remarks by political officials. Nevertheless, she made it clear that there can be no room in Europe for language that justifies, incites or glorifies ethnic cleansing. Hipper also reaffirmed the European Union’s commitment to human rights, peace and reconciliation in the region.

The Serbian minister made the statement at a time when relations between Kosovo and Serbia remain fragile. The European Union continues to call on both sides to refrain from inflammatory language and actions that could heighten tensions or undermine the process of normalizing relations.

It should also be recalled that Kosovo has declared the Serbian minister “persona non grata.”

Activist Agim Aliçkaj spoke to “Bota sot” about the issue. According to him, Paunović’s statement about the ethnic cleansing of Kosovo is not an isolated case, but reflects the continuation of historic Serbian policies that, he claims, have sought to expel and eradicate Albanians from their lands.

Aliçkaj said that Minister Paunović’s position on ethnically cleansing Kosovo of Albanians is neither new nor surprising. He described it as a continuation of the centuries-old efforts of a chauvinistic, racist and hegemonic Serbian policy aimed at eradicating Albanians.

According to him, there have been numerous projects to eliminate Albanians and seize their lands for the Serbs. He listed the 1844 Načertanije, Čubrilović’s 1937 memorandum titled “The Expulsion of the Albanians,” the 1986 Memorandum of the Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts (SANU), and Operation “Horseshoe” of 1998–1999, organized by the regime of war criminal Slobodan Milošević.

The activist said that Čubrilović had presented in detail the methods and means of implementing what he called Serbia’s inhumane plans. Aliçkaj recalled his assertion that “the existence of the Serbian nation depends on the nonexistence of the Albanian nation.” He added that all these plans, in his view, were the joint product of state regimes, the Serbian Academy of Sciences and the Serbian Orthodox Church.

Aliçkaj went on to say that Serbia’s plans for genocide in Kosovo failed thanks to Albanian resistance, the KLA’s war and NATO’s intervention. Nevertheless, according to him, the ideology of hatred toward Albanians remains present in Serbia, partly because no “denazification” process took place after the war.

He said that the Albanian people’s heroic, centuries-long resistance, waged in various forms, culminated in the KLA’s war of liberation and NATO’s bombing of Serbia in 1999. For this reason, he said, Serbia’s genocide against Albanians ultimately failed, and did so shamefully. Nevertheless, Aliçkaj said Serbia’s futile aspirations continue, as demonstrated by Minister Paunović’s latest statement.

According to the activist, a significant portion of the Serbian people, even after the bombing and the loss of four brutal wars, has still not broken free from the myths and deceptions of a political class he described as sick. He said this class continues to rule by inciting hatred toward Albanians and other peoples of the Balkans.

Aliçkaj described the failure of Western countries to undertake the “denazification” of Serbian society following Serbia’s military defeat, freeing it from hatred toward other nations and from what he called the dead myths of the Middle Ages, as a major mistake.

He further criticized the approach of the European Union and the United States toward Serbia, saying they are pursuing a lenient policy and taking no concrete action over its statements and conduct. At the same time, according to Aliçkaj, Kosovo is being subjected to unfair pressure, amounting to a double standard.

The activist said that the European Community and the United States are continuing what he called the mistaken and failed policy of appeasing the Serbian regime. He stressed that this regime is led by Aleksandar Vučić, an associate of Milošević, while this approach, in his view, is motivated by illusory geostrategic interests aimed at drawing Serbia away from Russian influence. Aliçkaj added that the Serbian regime is exploiting this situation without restraint or mercy.

As evidence, he cited what he described as the weak and unserious response by European Commission spokesperson Anitta Hipper, as well as the positions of many representatives of Western countries. According to him, the only exceptions are a few lawmakers or thinkers with strong humanitarian principles, while concrete punitive action over Minister Paunović’s inhumane statement is entirely absent.

Aliçkaj claimed that no concrete punitive measures have been taken against Serbia over the terrorist acts in Banjska and Ujman, its refusal to sign the Brussels agreement, and its destabilization of Kosovo and the Balkans. On the other hand, he said, Kosovo is being asked to make further concessions to Serbia through unfair pressure, including sanctions against Kosovo for enforcing the law in the north. He called this double standard shocking.

In conclusion, the activist said that reactions from Albania, part of the Albanian political establishment and the international community have been insufficient. He warned that without punishing those responsible and without fundamental changes in Serbian policy, long-term peace cannot be established in the Balkans.

Aliçkaj described the reaction of the mother country and of the person he characterized as Albania’s illegitimate pro-Serbian prime minister, Edi Rama, as worthless and shameful. He used the same terms to describe the silence of representatives of several parties and part of the press in Kosovo and other Albanian territories.

According to him, the statement by Paunović, whom he called the minister of hatred of a Serbian state built on hatred and myths, poses a danger. Aliçkaj claimed that her aim is to deceive Serbian voters in the upcoming elections and divert international attention from the destructive actions of the Vučić regime. He added that the regime is taking no action against the minister, while Vučić is already presenting himself as a “constructive leader committed to peace.”

In his concluding statement to “Bota sot,” Aliçkaj said that everyone must understand this message, including both national and non-national Albanians, as well as international actors with differing positions. According to him, without punishing Serbian criminals, removing the Serbian government that he described as chauvinistic, racist and hegemonic, and denazifying the segment of the Serbian population burdened by hatred toward others, there will never be stability, security and lasting peace in the Balkans.

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These comments have been met with widespread condemnation, as they are seen as an attempt to legitimize ethnic cleansing rhetoric and run counter to the fundamental principles of the European Union.

Anitta Hipper, spokesperson for the European Commission, stressed that while the institution does not usually comment on individual statements, there is no room in Europe for language that justifies, promotes, or glorifies ethnic cleansing. She reaffirmed the EU’s unwavering commitment to human rights, peace, and reconciliation in the region.

This statement comes at a time when relations between Kosovo and Serbia remain extremely delicate, and Brussels continues to call on both sides to distance themselves from provocative language and actions that endanger the normalization process.

Meanwhile, Kosovo has declared Minister Paunović persona ‘non grata’.

Regarding this development, activist Agim Aliçkaj gave a statement to “Bota sot”, warning that this declaration is far from spontaneous but reflects an unbroken line of historical Serbian policies aimed at the displacement and destruction of Albanians from their lands.

Aliçkaj placed the minister’s speech in a broader context, noting that plans for the elimination of Albanians date back to the Načertanije of 1844, continue with Čubrilović’s 1937 Memorandum on the “Expulsion of the Albanians”, the 1986 Memorandum of the Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts, and culminate in the “Horseshoe” operation of 1998–1999, organized by the Milošević regime. He recalled that Čubrilović had clearly stated that the survival of the Serbian nation depended on the disappearance of the Albanian nation, adding that these plans are the product of collaboration between state regimes, the Serbian Academy, and the Serbian Orthodox Church.

Fortunately, according to him, the unbroken resistance of the Albanians, the liberation war of the KLA, and NATO’s intervention in 1999 caused the Serbian genocide in Kosovo to fail. Nevertheless, he underscores that the ideology of hatred towards Albanians remains alive in Serbia, partly due to the lack of a “denazification” process of Serbian society after the conflict.

He argued that a major mistake by Western powers was precisely the failure to liberate the Serbian people from medieval myths and to promote genuine reconciliation, leaving intact a political class that feeds the electorate with hatred towards neighbors.

Aliçkaj sharply criticized the approach of the European Union and the United States, describing it as a policy of appeasement towards the regime led by Aleksandar Vučić, a former collaborator of Milošević. According to him, the tepid reaction of the EC spokesperson, as well as the lack of concrete punitive measures for acts like the terrorist attack in Banjska and Ujman, or for the non-signing of the Brussels agreement, reveal a shocking double standard. Meanwhile, he added, the unfair pressure on Kosovo for further concessions, including sanctions for the implementation of the law in the north, reinforces this impression.

Finally, the activist called the reaction of official Albania and Prime Minister Edi Rama worthless and shameful, as well as the silence of a part of the parties and press in the Albanian space. He warned that Minister Paunović’s statement is dangerous and serves to deceive Serbian voters ahead of elections, as well as to divert international attention from the destructive actions of Vučić’s regime. Aliçkaj concluded that without the punishment of criminals, the removal of a chauvinist government, and the eradication of hatred from a segment of Serbian society, there will never be lasting peace and security in the Balkans.

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Paunović has deepened the controversy surrounding her views on Kosovo, refusing to distance herself from the assertion that if she had been in the role of former President Slobodan Milošević during 1998, she would have carried out “ethnic cleansing of Kosovo.” Instead of an apology, she has attacked her critics, accusing them of being filled with “hatred towards Kosovo” and representing “internal treason.”

Via an Instagram post, the Serbian minister also made another statement against Kosovo Albanians, saying she would “return them to their country of origin, Albania.”

“I would not kill any of you, I would simply return you to your homeland, Albania. I believe they would welcome you,” Paunović wrote.

On the other hand, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Internal Affairs of Serbia, Ivica Dačić, came to her defense, calling the criticism of the minister “shameful and hypocritical.”

Dačić argued that those accusing Paunović of inciting ethnic cleansing remained silent in the face of what he called “the ethnic cleansing of Serbs from Kosovo,” referring to the departure of the Serb community from the area.

Analysts consider that these latest statements from high-ranking political figures in Serbia prove that the nationalist rhetoric and mentality of the 1990s are still present, creating uncertainty about the stability of the Balkan region.

According to them, diplomatic reactions are insufficient, and the European Union must take concrete steps towards Belgrade, conditioning support and the integration path on respecting European standards and breaking away from language that justifies historical crimes.

They emphasize that Kosovo and Albanians must maintain unity and vigilance, while the international community must be more resolute in confronting any attempt to revive nationalist ideologies that have produced conflicts in the region.

Activist Saim Tahiraj, in a statement for “Bota sot,” asserted that Serbian chauvinist politics has followed a continuous line for more than a century of creating and implementing projects against Albanians.

Tahiraj underlined that history shows ethnic cleansing and crimes against Albanians were not isolated incidents but part of a permanent policy.

“Serbian projects never stopped being drafted and implemented. The ethnic cleansings and mass crimes against Albanians never ceased for a moment. From the expulsions of Albanians from Toplica to the last conflict in Kosovo, Serbian chauvinist politics developed a series of violent campaigns that left deep consequences for the Albanian people,” he stated.

“For more than a century, Albanians faced terror, massacres, ethnic cleansing, and severe crimes, which aimed to weaken and eliminate them from their own lands in the Illyrian Peninsula. These goals were tested several times, but were never realized, even though Serbia enjoyed the support of Russia and some traditional allies in Europe,” he added.

“The Albanian people remained unbreakable throughout history. Even when isolated, they stood with stoicism, paying a very high price for their freedom and survival,” Tahiraj emphasized.

According to him, even today, statements with chauvinistic content are heard from Serbian officials, which shows this rhetoric has not died out.

“Unfortunately, chauvinistic rhetoric against Albanians has not disappeared. Therefore, such statements from Serbian officials are neither the first nor likely the last. They should not surprise us, but remind us that we must remain united and vigilant. Despite the statements and provocations, Albanians are moving forward. Today we have two Albanian states that are strengthening every day, as well as a powerful diaspora worldwide, which is always ready to help its country in any way,” he said.

“Let the Serbian chauvinists talk as much as they want; this does not stop our journey. Their dream of ethnically cleansing Albanians has failed once and for all,” Tahiraj concluded.

“The 21st century must be the century of development, success, and affirmation of Albanians. It is precisely these successes that Serbian chauvinism cannot bear, so such reactions are not accidental. ‘Let the dogs bark as much as they want; the caravan of Albanian successes continues to march powerfully forward,'” he added.

On the other hand, political analyst Eduard Gashi, for “Bota sot,” assessed that the Serbian minister’s statement is a serious signal for the region and proves that nationalist ideology in Serbia continues to be active.

Gashi stated that Kosovo institutions’ decision to declare Paunović persona non grata and the public support she received from the leader of the Socialist Party of Serbia, Ivica Dačić, shows that the rhetoric of the Milošević era has not disappeared.

“The scandalous statement of the Serbian Minister of Public Administration, Snezhana Paunović, where she claimed that if she were in Slobodan Milošević’s place, she would have carried out ‘ethnic cleansing in Kosovo in 1998,’ has ignited a new alarm in the Balkans,” he said. “Prishtina’s immediate decision to declare her permanently persona non grata and the defense offered by Ivica Dačić show that the old nationalist currents in Belgrade have never died out — they were simply hidden under the mask of pragmatic diplomacy.”

“When a government cabinet minister publicly declares she has no regrets for promoting ethnic cleansing and describes it as ‘part of the strategy’ of the Socialist Party of Serbia (SPS), we are no longer dealing with an individual gaffe. The open support of Deputy Prime Minister and SPS leader, Ivica Dačić, for Paunović confirms a bitter truth: the ideological legacy of Milošević remains an active pillar of Serbian politics,” Gashi added.

He noted that Dačić, who once served as Milošević’s spokesperson, uses this rhetoric not simply to please his right-wing base, but also to test the limits of Western tolerance. “This institutional support proves that the glorification of war crimes and historical revisionism are part of a well-organized state policy, which coexists without problem within the governing coalition in Belgrade,” he emphasized.

Gashi was also critical of the European Union’s reaction, saying that condemnatory statements are not enough if they are not accompanied by concrete measures against Serbia.

“The reaction of the European Union, through Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos, was clear in principle: ‘There is no place in Europe for rhetoric that justifies, advocates, and glorifies ethnic cleansing.’ However, beyond such diplomatic statements, Brussels is once again showing the same lethargy that has characterized its foreign policy towards the Western Balkans,” he argued.

“As long as statements that call for genocidal violence pass with only verbal punishments and without real financial or political consequences, Serbia will have no incentive to change its behavior. The EU’s policy of ‘coddling’ Belgrade (under the pretext of keeping it away from Russian influence) has failed to bring democratic stability; on the contrary, it is fueling a sense of impunity,” he added.

According to Gashi, the European Union has concrete mechanisms at its disposal to pressure Belgrade, but so far has not used them effectively.

“The question now being posed in European chancelleries is pragmatic: Has the time come for the EU to move from words to actions? The tools to sanction this behavior exist and are quite effective if used: Freezing pre-accession funds (IPA), conditioning hundreds of millions of euros on respecting European values, would be the quickest and most sensitive blow. Suspending accession negotiations, making it clear that no new chapter can be opened for a state where government members openly call for ethnic cleansing. Targeted sanctions, such as travel bans and asset freezes in the EU for officials like Paunović and Dačić, would send a clear signal that the European red line cannot be crossed without personal cost,” he said.

“The ‘Paunović’ case shows that the normalization process of relations between Kosovo and Serbia is not being hindered only by technical issues, but by Serbia’s deep lack of confronting its criminal past. If the EU continues to play the role of a neutral spectator, it risks completely losing its credibility as a mediator and allowing the region to slide again towards the dark scenarios of the 1990s,” Gashi concluded for “Bota sot.”

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The statement sparked numerous reactions, as it was viewed as a justification of ethnic-cleansing rhetoric and a stance contrary to the fundamental principles of the European Union.

European Commission spokesperson Anitta Hipper said the EU does not comment on individual statements by political figures. However, she stressed that rhetoric justifying, inciting or glorifying ethnic cleansing has no place in Europe, reaffirming the bloc’s commitment to human rights, peace and regional reconciliation.

The reactions come at a time when Kosovo-Serbia relations remain fragile. The European Union continues to call on both sides to avoid inflammatory language and actions that could increase tensions or undermine the normalization of relations.

Meanwhile, Kosovo has declared the Serbian minister ‘non grata’.

On the matter, activist Agim Aliçkaj gave a statement to “Bota Sot”, describing Paunović’s remarks as part of the continuation of historical Serbian policies which, according to him, have aimed to expel and eliminate Albanians from their lands.

He said the Serbian minister’s statement regarding the ethnic cleansing of Kosovo’s Albanians was neither new nor surprising, considering it a continuation of centuries-long efforts by Serbian policy, which he described as chauvinistic, racist and hegemonic.

According to Aliçkaj, projects aimed at eliminating Albanians and taking their land include the 1844 Načertanije, Čubrilović’s 1937 memorandum “The Expulsion of the Albanians”, the 1986 Memorandum of the Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts (SANU), and Operation “Horseshoe” of 1998–1999, organized by the regime of war criminal Slobodan Milošević.

The activist said Čubrilović had set out in detail the methods for implementing what he described as inhumane plans, citing the assertion that “the existence of the Serbian nation depends on the non-existence of the Albanian nation”. He added that, in his view, Serbian plans had been the joint product of state regimes, the Serbian Academy of Sciences and the Serbian Orthodox Church.

Aliçkaj assessed that Serbian plans for genocide in Kosovo failed thanks to Albanian resistance, the Kosovo Liberation Army’s war and NATO’s intervention. However, he said the ideology of hatred toward Albanians continues to exist in Serbia, partly due to the absence of a “denazification” process after the war.

According to him, the heroic centuries-long resistance of Albanians in various forms, crowned by the Kosovo Liberation Army’s liberation war and NATO’s bombing of Serbia in 1999, ultimately caused Serbian genocide against Albanians to fail. He stated that Serbian aspirations continue to be expressed through Paunović’s latest statement.

He added that a large part of the Serbian population, even after the bombing and the loss of four brutal wars, has, in his view, not freed itself from the myths and deceptions of a political class that feeds it hatred toward Albanians and other Balkan peoples.

Aliçkaj called the lack of “denazification” of Serbian society after Serbia’s military defeat a major mistake by Western states, as well as the failure to free it from hatred toward other nations and the dead myths of the Middle Ages.

He further stated that the European Community and America are pursuing a misguided and failed policy of rapprochement with the Serbian regime led by Aleksandar Vučić, whom he described as a collaborator of Milošević. According to him, this policy is linked to interests he called illusory, aimed at pulling Serbia away from Russian influence, while the Serbian regime is exploiting the situation without limits.

He described Anitta Hipper’s reaction, as well as the reactions of many representatives of Western countries, as weak and unserious, except, in his view, for some MPs or thinkers with strong human principles. Aliçkaj stressed that no concrete punitive measures had been taken over Minister Paunović’s statement.

He also claimed that no punitive measures had been taken against Serbia over the terrorist acts in Banjska and Ujman, its failure to sign the Brussels Agreement, and the destabilization of Kosovo and the Balkans. On the other hand, he said Kosovo is subjected to unfair pressure to make further concessions to Serbia, including sanctions against Kosovo for enforcing the law in the north, which he described as a shocking double standard.

In conclusion, Aliçkaj said the reaction from Albania, part of Albanian politics and the international community had been insufficient. He warned that, in his view, without punishing those responsible and without fundamental changes in Serbian policy, lasting peace in the Balkans cannot be guaranteed.

He described the reaction of the mother state and Albania’s illegitimate pro-Serbian prime minister, Edi Rama, as worthless and shameful. According to him, the same applies to the lack of reaction from representatives of certain parties and part of the press in Kosovo and other Albanian lands.

Aliçkaj described Paunović’s statement as dangerous, calling her a minister of hatred in a Serbian state of hatred and myths. According to him, its aim is to deceive Serbian voters in the upcoming elections and divert international attention from the destructive actions of Vučić’s regime, which, according to Aliçkaj, does not take measures against her but presents itself as a “constructive leader committed to peace”.

He concluded that without punishing Serbian criminals, removing the Serbian government that he described as chauvinistic, racist and hegemonic, and without the “denazification” of the part of the Serbian population burdened by hatred toward others, there will be no calm, security or lasting peace in the Balkans.

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The debate over her comments regarding Kosovo continued after Paunović refused to apologise or distance herself from her assertion that, had she been in the position of former Serbian president Slobodan Milošević in 1998, she would have “ethnically cleansed Kosovo”. Instead, she attacked her critics, accusing them of “hatred toward Kosovo” and “internal betrayal”.

In a response posted on Instagram, the Serbian minister again addressed Kosovo Albanians with a provocative statement, saying she would send them back to Albania, which she described as their country of origin.

Paunović wrote that she would not kill any of them, but would simply return them to “your country of origin, Albania”, adding that she believed they would accept them.

She has been backed by Serbia’s Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister, Ivica Dačić. He described the criticism directed at the minister as “shameful and hypocritical”.

According to Dačić, those accusing Paunović of inciting ethnic cleansing did not react to what he described as the “ethnic cleansing of Serbs from Kosovo”, referring to the departure of Serbs from the country.

Analysts believe that the latest statements by senior Serbian officials demonstrate the continued presence of nationalism and approaches linked to the legacy of the 1990s in Serbia. According to them, this poses a risk to stability in the Balkans.

They believe that reactions solely at the diplomatic level are not enough. The European Union, they say, must take concrete steps against Belgrade by making support and the integration path conditional on respect for European values and a departure from language that justifies past crimes.

Analysts also stress the need for Kosovo and Albanians to remain united and vigilant, while the international community must take a firmer stance against any attempt to revive nationalist ideologies that have produced conflicts in the region.

Tahiraj: Serbian blueprints have never stopped; Albanians must preserve unity and vigilance

Activist Saim Tahiraj told “Bota sot” that Serbia’s chauvinist policy has, for more than a century, consistently pursued the drafting and implementation of plans against Albanians.

According to Tahiraj, the past shows that crimes and ethnic cleansing against Albanians have not been isolated cases, but part of an uninterrupted policy.

He said that Serbian plans have continuously been prepared and implemented, while ethnic cleansing and mass crimes against Albanians have not ceased. Tahiraj mentioned the expulsion of Albanians from the wider Toplica region and the most recent war in Kosovo, assessing that Serbia’s chauvinist policy carried out a series of violent campaigns with grave consequences for the Albanian people.

For more than a century, he said, Albanians have faced terror, massacres, ethnic cleansing and serious crimes, aimed at weakening and eliminating them from their lands on the Illyrian Peninsula. He said these aims were attempted several times but were not achieved, although Serbia had the support of Russia and some of its traditional allies in Europe.

Tahiraj assessed that the Albanian people remained undefeated during different historical periods and, even in circumstances when they were isolated, stood steadfast while paying a very high price for their freedom and survival.

He said that chauvinist statements against Albanians can still be heard in Serbian politics today, which, according to him, proves that this spirit has not ended.

According to Tahiraj, chauvinist rhetoric against Albanians unfortunately continues to exist. He assessed that the statements by Serbian representatives are not the first and may not be the last, so Albanians should not be surprised but should remain united and vigilant.

He added that Albanians are moving forward despite such provocations and statements. According to him, there are now two Albanian states that are growing stronger every day, as well as a powerful diaspora around the world, ready to help its homeland in every possible way.

Tahiraj stated that the words of Serbian chauvinists cannot obstruct the Albanian path and that their aim of ethnically cleansing Albanians has failed permanently.

He said that the 21st century should be a period of development, success and affirmation for Albanians. According to him, Serbian chauvinism cannot tolerate precisely these achievements, which is why such reactions are not accidental. Tahiraj concluded by saying that, regardless of how much opponents may speak, the caravan of Albanian successes continues to move powerfully forward.

Gashi: Serbian minister’s statement is an alarm signal for the Balkans; the EU must act

Political affairs expert Eduard Gashi told “Bota sot” that the Serbian minister’s stance is a serious signal for the region and shows that nationalist ideology remains present in Serbia.

Gashi said that Paunović being declared persona non grata by Kosovo’s institutions, as well as the public support she received from the leader of Serbia’s Socialist Party, Ivica Dačić, show that the rhetoric of the Milošević era has not disappeared.

According to him, Paunović’s statement that, if she were in Slobodan Milošević’s place, she would carry out “ethnic cleansing in Kosovo in 1998”, has raised a new alarm in the Balkans. Gashi said that Pristina’s immediate decision to declare her permanently persona non grata and the defence offered by Dačić demonstrate that the old nationalist currents in Belgrade have not faded away, but have merely hidden behind pragmatic diplomacy.

He assessed that when a government cabinet minister expresses no remorse for promoting ethnic cleansing and presents it as “part of the strategy” of Serbia’s Socialist Party, it cannot be considered an individual gaffe.

According to Gashi, the open support of Deputy Prime Minister and SPS leader Ivica Dačić for Paunović confirms that Milošević’s ideological legacy remains active in Serbian politics. He said that Dačić, who was once Milošević’s spokesman, uses this rhetoric to appease right-wing voters and test the limits of Western tolerance.

Gashi believes that this institutional support shows that the glorification of war crimes and revision of history are part of an organised state policy that coexists within the ruling coalition in Belgrade.

He also criticised the European Union’s response, stressing that declarative condemnations are not sufficiently valuable unless they are accompanied by concrete measures against Serbia.

Gashi said that the response of Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos was clear in principle, as she stated that there is no place in Europe for rhetoric that justifies, advocates or glorifies ethnic cleansing. However, according to him, Brussels continues to display the sluggishness that has characterised its foreign policy toward the Western Balkans.

According to him, as long as statements calling for genocidal violence are punished only verbally and bring no real political or financial consequences, Serbia will have no reason to change its behaviour. Gashi assessed that the EU policy of “coddling” Belgrade, on the grounds of distancing it from Russian influence, has not produced democratic stability and, on the contrary, is strengthening the sense of impunity.

He said that the EU has clear mechanisms to exert pressure on Belgrade, but stressed that they have not so far been used effectively.

Gashi raised the question of whether the time has come for European capitals to move from statements to action. He mentioned freezing pre-accession IPA funds, stressing that Serbia receives hundreds of millions of euros from the EU and that making these funds conditional on respect for European values would be the fastest and most effective measure.

As other measures, he mentioned suspending accession negotiations and not opening new chapters for a state whose government members publicly call for ethnic cleansing. Gashi also suggested targeted sanctions, including travel bans and the freezing of EU assets for officials such as Paunović and Dačić, saying this would send the message that crossing Europe’s red line carries personal costs.

In conclusion, Gashi stated that the “Paunović” case shows that the normalisation of relations between Kosovo and Serbia is blocked not only by technical issues, but also by Serbia’s lack of a deep reckoning with its criminal past. He warned that if the EU continues to act as a neutral spectator, it risks losing its credibility as a mediator and allowing the region to slide once again toward the dark scenarios of the 1990s.

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According to Gjini, Paunović’s actions and statements are concerning, particularly because she holds a position in Serbia’s current government. He said the case should also be handled at the international level and that proceedings should be initiated for an international arrest warrant against the minister, whom he described as irresponsible and chauvinistic.

“Her actions concern us because it must be understood that this minister is part of the current government. This affects us. International actors such as INTERPOL must necessarily be involved, and proceedings for an international arrest warrant must be initiated against this irresponsible and chauvinistic minister. Once she is apprehended, we will also seek assistance from the UN mission and NATO, because given that she speaks of ethnic cleansing against Albanians, it must be understood that NATO liberated us from Milošević’s bloody ethnic cleansing,” Gjini said.

The lawyer believes that the Serbian minister’s statements not only affect Albanians, but also pose a risk to NATO’s mission in Kosovo. He also called for Paunović to be removed from her ministerial post.

“Her statement not only concerns us, but puts us at risk as a population, taking us back to those bad Serbian memories, of those who carried out ethnic cleansing. On the other hand, it also endangers NATO’s mission, because it is here as a peacekeeping force and her very statement should be an alarm bell for the UN mission. NATO should also be concerned, since our security is still in its hands. This minister should resign and there should be European and broader diplomatic pressure. I saw yesterday in her statement that she apologised to President Vučić and her government, but she did not apologise to Albanians,” Gjini said.

He described the Interior Ministry’s decision to declare Paunović persona non grata as ridiculous, saying that such a measure does not correspond to the consequences that, according to him, her statements could have for the people, the constitutional order and public order.

“The Republic of Kosovo has taken a legal initiative to declare her persona non grata; this is ridiculous in relation to the consequences it poses for us as a people and to the fact that it undermines the constitutional and public order… I will demand that the Special Prosecution become active, seek the assistance of the FBI and INTERPOL, and that she be apprehended as soon as possible,” he said.

Paunović herself apologised to Vučić for her scandalous statements, but not to Albanians.

Her statements regarding the ethnic cleansing of Kosovo were made last weekend during a programme on Serbia’s Kurir.

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

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