German Bundestag member Adis Ahmetović delivered a strong and emotionally charged speech in the German Parliament, recalling the tragic events of 1999 in Kosovo, when thousands of civilians became victims of massacres and ethnic cleansing carried out by the regime of Slobodan Milošević.
During his address, Ahmetović sharply criticized the persistent narrative portraying NATO’s intervention in the former Yugoslavia as a violation of international law, warning that this argument is increasingly being misused — including by far-right groups — to justify new breaches of international law.
Warning Against the Misuse of History
Ahmetović cautioned that such interpretations are now appearing in current Bundestag debates, including discussions surrounding the federal chancellor’s foreign policy, and are contributing to the dangerous relativization of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine.
According to him, this narrative erases the memory of genocide and war crimes committed in the Balkans, undermining justice and historical accountability.
“Every time you use this narrative, you forget the victims of Srebrenica in 1995, because there was no humanitarian intervention then. And every time you use this narrative, you also forget the victims in Kosovo. Thousands of people fell victim to Milošević’s massacres,” Ahmetović stated.
Humanitarian Intervention, Not Aggression
Ahmetović stressed that the 1999 humanitarian intervention — supported by the German Bundestag — was decisive in stopping systematic violence and preventing another genocide in the Western Balkans. He emphasized that this intervention cannot be equated with wars of aggression or territorial invasions, clearly distinguishing it from Russia’s aggression against Ukraine.
He further accused certain political actors of defending narratives hostile to democracy and human rights, including the relativization or justification of figures such as Slobodan Milošević.
According to Ahmetović, such positions insult the victims and pose a serious threat to Europe’s historical memory.
Support from Kosovo’s Embassy
Ahmetović’s speech was publicly welcomed by the Ambassador of the Republic of Kosovo to Germany, Faruk Ajeti, who thanked the MP for his principled stance.
“Thank you, dear Adis, for your clear position and your direct words,” Ajeti wrote.
