Member of the Serbian Parliament from the Party for Democratic Action, Shaip Kamberi, has stated that the remarks made by Serbian Minister Snežana Paunović are causing fear among Albanians living in Serbia and called for an urgent response from the Serbian government.
Kamberi said that the government must immediately address the statement made by the Minister of Public Administration and Local Self-Government, who said in an interview with Kurir TV that “if she had been in Slobodan Milošević’s position in 1998, she would have carried out the ethnic cleansing of Kosovo.”
According to Kamberi, the minister’s statement damages Serbia’s international credibility and the dialogue process with Kosovo, while also creating insecurity among national minorities, particularly Albanians.
“Minister Paunović’s statement is spreading fear among Albanians living in Serbia. She cannot do anything about Kosovo; she can only request travel expenses there,” Kamberi said.
He questioned why the Serbian government has remained silent on the issue and demanded clarification on whether such rhetoric represents part of its official policy.
“The government should respond within the day, or at the latest tomorrow, regarding this scandalous statement, because such a position should not be part of a government that claims EU membership as a foreign policy goal,” Kamberi stated.
Kamberi also criticized the silence of senior Serbian officials, saying that their lack of response could indicate an attempt to downplay or cover up the issue.
According to him, Paunović’s remarks are part of a broader narrative that has been present in Serbian public discourse for years through the denial of war crimes and the glorification of individuals convicted of such crimes.
He warned that the issue could have a negative impact on relations between Serbia, Kosovo, and Albania.
