U.S. Congressman Ritchie Torres has forcefully condemned the recent remarks made by Serbian Minister Snežana Paunović, labeling her comments regarding the “ethnic cleansing of Kosova” as an open embrace of genocide against the Albanian people.
In an exclusive statement to Gazeta Express, the high-profile American lawmaker gave his full backing to Kosova’s decision to ban the minister from entering the country and demanded her immediate ouster from the Serbian government.
A Harsh Condemnation from Capitol Hill
Congressman Torres, a staunch ally of Kosova in Washington, pulled no punches when evaluating the moral and political implications of the minister’s televised statements:
“Snežana Paunović’s statement that she would have carried out the ethnic cleansing of Kosova had she been in Milošević’s shoes is morally reprehensible and an open embrace of genocide against the Albanian people. Kosova was completely in the right to ban her entry into the country, and she must resign from her post immediately.”
U.S. State Department Reacts to the Crisis
The severe diplomatic backlash generated by Paunović’s remarks has reached the highest levels of American diplomacy. The U.S. Department of State (DASH) also issued an official reaction to Gazeta Express, outlining Washington’s position on the inflammatory rhetoric emanating from Belgrade:
- Regional Stability First: The State Department made it clear that preserving peace and security in the Western Balkans remains a top priority for the United States.
- The Path of Normalization: Official Washington reiterated that the normalization of relations between Kosova and Serbia is absolutely indispensable to achieving long-term regional peace.
- A Call for Rhetorical Responsibility: U.S. diplomats issued a direct directive targeting regional politicians, demanding that they actively contribute to the peace process through the language they choose to employ rather than stoking ethnic animosity.
The dual condemnations from Capitol Hill and the State Department signal that the fallout over Paunović’s remarks has fundamentally damaged Belgrade’s diplomatic standings in the United States, keeping the Western Balkans at the center of international scrutiny.
