Political analyst Dorajet Imeri has described the recent statements by Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić and Minister Snezhana Paunović as evidence of Serbia’s continued state policy toward Kosovo and a dangerous escalation of rhetoric aimed at legitimizing territorial claims through threatening language.
In a Facebook post, Imeri said that Vučić’s declaration that “Kosovo is Serbia” and Paunović’s refusal to distance herself from her previous remarks regarding ethnic cleansing should not be viewed as isolated incidents, but rather as part of a consolidated political narrative.
“The ‘ethnic cleansing of Kosovo’ has been, and remains, Serbia’s official position toward Kosovo. That has now been made clear,” he wrote.
According to Imeri, the latest messages from Serbia’s leadership represent a dangerous political formula that combines militarization, nationalist rhetoric, and the denial of Kosovo’s statehood.
“The formula is simple: ‘armament + ethnic cleansing + genocide = Kosovo is Serbia,’” Imeri wrote.
He warned that normalizing such language is not merely a matter of rhetoric but creates space for legitimizing ideas that have previously led to wars, ethnic cleansing, and mass atrocities in the Balkans.
Imeri also criticized the lack of reaction from the international community, arguing that silence is being interpreted by Belgrade as a green light to continue this rhetoric.
According to him, the European Union cannot advocate for dialogue and regional stability while tolerating statements that revive hegemonic ambitions and downplay the concept of ethnic cleansing.
“Silence in the face of these statements is being interpreted as tolerance. In other words, the international community is tolerating calls for ethnic cleansing and genocide,” Imeri said.
In conclusion, Imeri called on the European Union, the United States, and democratic partners to unequivocally condemn the statements made by Serbian officials and make it clear to Belgrade that the language of threats, the glorification of territorial claims, and the relativization of ethnic cleansing have no place in a country seeking membership in the European Union.
