Why is this statement considered offensive?

Ethnic cleansing is a war crime, and justifying it violates international norms and historical sensitivity.

Which countries recognize Kosovo's independence?

Over 110 countries, including the U.S. and most EU members, but not Serbia, Russia, or China.

Was Paunovic born in Kosovo?

Yes, she was born in Kosovo, which adds to the controversy of her remarks.

What actions might the EU take next?

The EU may suspend dialogue talks or impose diplomatic and financial pressure on Serbia.

Can this crisis be resolved peacefully?

It requires sustained dialogue, mutual recognition, and trust-building over time.

Serbian Minister's Ethnic Cleansing Remarks Spark Controversy; Kosovo Bans Entry

Published Jul 15, 2026 11:21 AM ・ Updated Jul 15, 2026 1:32 PM ・ 5 min read ・ Source: CNA (Central News Agency)

Kosovo has declared a Serbian minister permanently unwelcome after she stated that, had she been in power during the Kosovo War, she would have carried out ethnic cleansing. The remarks have drawn condemnation from Kosovo and EU officials.

(Central News, Pristina, Kosovo, April 14 – international news compilation) Kosovo's Interior Minister announced today that a Serbian minister has been declared permanently unwelcome in the country, following her statement yesterday that she would have carried out ethnic cleansing in Kosovo if she had been in leadership during the Kosovo War.

According to Reuters, more than 13,000 people are believed to have died during the Kosovo War in the late 1990s, mostly ethnic Albanians from Kosovo. At the time, Kosovo was a province of Serbia, governed by nationalist strongman President Slobodan Milosevic, whose government forces violently suppressed ethnic Albanians.

The remarks by Snezana Paunovic, Serbia's Minister of Public Administration and Local Self-Government, have angered Kosovo authorities and were condemned by European Union (EU) officials.

In an interview yesterday with a television channel headquartered in Belgrade, Serbia's capital, Paunovic said: 'If I were Milosevic, I would have carried out ethnic cleansing in Kosovo in 1998. This is the harshest expression I could use.'

Anadolu Agency (AA) reported that Paunovic also said: 'Not to eliminate us as they wanted, but to make them feel they do not belong in Serbia, and then return to their homeland.'

Milosevic died in 2006 while on trial in The Hague, Netherlands, where he was being prosecuted for war crimes, including genocide, committed during the breakup of Yugoslavia in the 1990s.

Kosovo's Interior Minister Xhelal Svecla stated in a declaration: 'I have decided to declare Paunovic an unwelcome person, permanently banning her from entering or transiting through the Republic of Kosovo.'

After a 78-day NATO air campaign against Serbian military and police targets in 1999, fighting between Serbian forces and ethnic Albanian guerrillas in Kosovo ended in June of that year.

Kosovo declared independence in 2008 and is recognized by over 110 countries, but not by Serbia. Over 90% of Kosovo's population is ethnic Albanian, and about 5% is ethnic Serbian. Paunovic was also born in Kosovo.

Marta Kos, the EU's Commissioner for Enlargement, condemned Paunovic's remarks. She said: 'Europe does not allow speech that defends, promotes, or glorifies ethnic cleansing.' (Translation: Lu Yingzi) 1150715

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Source: CNA (Central News Agency)
Category: Taiwan

Serbian Minister's Ethnic Cleansing Remarks Spark Controversy; Kosovo Bans Entry

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