The Council of Albanian Ambassadors (KASH) has issued a fierce condemnation of the recent remarks made by Serbian Minister of Public Administration Snežana Paunović regarding the ethnic cleansing of Kosovo in 1998.
Calling the rhetoric a dangerous regression to the genocidal ideologies of the 1990s, the Council is demanding immediate, coordinated diplomatic countermeasures from Albania and Kosovo, urging both nations to raise the issue directly with the European Union, NATO, and global strategic partners.
“Modern Genocide” in the Preševo Valley
In its official reaction, KASH warned that Paunović’s comments are not isolated, but rather part of a broader, systemic effort in Belgrade to rehabilitate war-era ideologies.
Crucially, the Council drew a direct line between the minister’s historical revisionism and Serbia’s ongoing treatment of its ethnic Albanian minority in the southern Preševo Valley:
“KASH recalls the severe discrimination against Albanians in the Preševo Valley, including the mass passivation of addresses, which is considered a form of modern genocide.”
— Council of Albanian Ambassadors (KASH)
The Council reaffirmed that the independence of Kosovo is an irreversible reality and that the Western Balkans requires responsible leadership, respect for international law, and good neighborly relations—not a revival of hate speech.
The Demanded Diplomatic Response
KASH is urging the Government of Albania to transition from passive observation to active diplomatic protest. The Council outlined a clear, multi-step international strategy to counter Belgrade’s rhetoric:
[ Recommended Diplomatic Escalation ]
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+--------------------------+--------------------------+
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v v
[ Direct Protest ] [ Global Coalitions ]
• Albania must deliver an official • Joint coordination between Pristina
**diplomatic demarche** to the and Tirana to brief the **EU and NATO**.
Serbian Embassy in Tirana. • Formal complaints to strategic Western allies.
Mounting International Isolation for Paunović
The Council’s statement follows a series of swift retaliatory actions against the Serbian minister over the last 48 hours:
- Declared Persona Non Grata: On Tuesday, Kosovo’s Acting Interior Minister Xhelal Sveçla officially banned Paunović from entering or transiting through Kosovo.
- European Union Condemnation: The European Union formally condemned the minister’s remarks on Tuesday, reiterating that any justification or glorification of ethnic cleansing is entirely incompatible with EU values and the integration process.
With both regional diplomats and Brussels united in their outrage, the pressure is mounting on Belgrade to address the conduct of its cabinet members, as the silence of the Serbian government continues to fuel diplomatic isolation.
