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"I would ethnically cleanse Kosovo"/ Europe condemns Belgrade's rhetoric, Rama chooses silence

Politiko 2026-07-15 12:59:00

"I would ethnically cleanse Kosovo"/ Europe condemns Belgrade's

Former Swedish Prime Minister and renowned European diplomat Carl Bildt has reacted sharply to the statement of Serbian Minister of Public Administration and Local Self-Government, Snezhana Paunovic, who stated that, if she were in Slobodan Milosevic's place in 1998, she would "ethnically cleanse Kosovo."

In a post on the social network X, Bildt called the statement unacceptable for a member of the Serbian government and called on Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić not to ignore it.

"This is scandalous from a member of the government. It is certainly not advancing the country's prospects - quite the opposite. I don't think President Vučić can remain passive in the face of this ," Bildt wrote.

"I would ethnically cleanse Kosovo"/ Europe condemns Belgrade's
The reaction of the former European High Representative comes at a time when the Serbian minister's statement has sparked a wave of international condemnation, while Prime Minister Edi Rama has not yet made any public reaction regarding this issue.

Kosovo authorities reacted immediately, declaring Paunović "persona non grata" and permanently banning him from entering and transiting the territory of the Republic of Kosovo.

The decision came after the Serbian minister, in an interview with the media outlet "Kurir", stated that, if she were in the place of former Serbian President Slobodan Milosevic, she would have "ethnically cleansed Kosovo" during the 1998 war.

The statement was made on the International Day of Remembrance of the Srebrenica Genocide, causing strong reactions in Kosovo and in the international arena.

In addition to Kosovo's institutions, the European Union also reacted, while Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos condemned the rhetoric used, emphasizing that such statements contradict the spirit of reconciliation and the European integration process.

Kosovo reacted by declaring the Serbian minister "persona non grata", the statement was also condemned by European officials, while there has not yet been a public reaction from Prime Minister Edi Rama.
 

 

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