PRISTINA, July 31, 2026 – Germany has reiterated that there is no place in Europe for rhetoric that justifies, promotes, or glorifies ethnic cleansing, following recent statements by Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić and Serbian government minister Snežana Paunović.
In a response to Kosovo media, the German Embassy in Pristina said Germany remains firmly committed to Kosovo’s sovereignty and European future while calling on all political actors to avoid statements and actions that undermine efforts to normalize relations between Kosovo and Serbia.
The embassy was responding to remarks by President Vučić, who urged newly commissioned Serbian military officers to be prepared to defend what he described as the country’s “holy land,” referring to Kosovo, as well as comments by Minister Snežana Paunović, who said she would have carried out ethnic cleansing in Kosovo had she been in the position of former Serbian President Slobodan Milošević.
“Germany recognized Kosovo as an independent state in 2008 and remains committed to supporting Kosovo’s sovereignty and its European integration,” the embassy said.
It stressed that progress toward European integration requires both Kosovo and Serbia to continue advancing the normalization of relations through the EU-facilitated dialogue.
“We call on all actors to refrain from statements and actions that hinder the achievement of this objective. We reiterate our clear and unwavering position that there is no place in Europe for rhetoric, justification, or promotion of ethnic cleansing,” the embassy stated.
The comments come days after the European Union also urged restraint in public discourse, emphasizing that inflammatory statements undermine efforts to normalize relations between Belgrade and Pristina.
Reacting to Vučić’s remarks during a recent military ceremony, an EU spokesperson reiterated that normalization can only be achieved through dialogue and warned against statements that contradict this objective.
“Only through dialogue can progress be achieved in the normalization of relations between Kosovo and Serbia. Statements and actions that are not in line with this objective should be avoided,” the spokesperson said.
The EU further stressed that tangible progress in the Belgrade–Pristina Dialogue remains a prerequisite for both parties’ advancement on their respective paths toward European Union membership.
Brussels has also previously condemned comments by Serbian officials perceived as justifying ethnic cleansing, while consistently calling on leaders across the Western Balkans to refrain from inflammatory rhetoric, war crimes denial, and the glorification of individuals responsible for wartime atrocities.
