A statement by Serbian minister Snezhana Paunovic has triggered strong reactions in Brussels, Prishtina and Belgrade. According to the European Parliament’s rapporteur for Kosovo, Riho Terras, this position is not merely a verbal scandal, but a direct blow to trust in the dialogue mediated by the EU between Kosovo and Serbia.
Reaction from the European Parliament
Riho Terras, the European Parliament’s rapporteur for Kosovo, strongly condemned the Serbian minister’s statement, calling it shameful and harmful to efforts which, according to the EU, aim for a final agreement between Kosovo and Serbia.
According to his public reaction, the statement “seriously destroys trust” in the dialogue mediated by the European bloc. Terras also cited the phrase attributed to the minister, according to which she said that, instead of Slobodan Milosevic in 1998, she would have ethnically cleansed Kosovo.
Political and legal consequences being pursued
Beyond the political reactions, Paunovic has been declared non grata in Kosovo and, according to reported developments, is also facing a lawsuit for inciting division in Kosovo.
At the same time, a request for her dismissal has also been submitted in Serbia. This shows that the issue is not remaining only at the level of declarations, although it remains unclear whether the relevant institutions will take concrete steps or whether everything will end with formal reactions.
Prishtina’s request for investigation and indictment
Kosovo’s acting Justice Minister, Donika Gervalla, announced that she has asked the State Chief Prosecutor to undertake, according to her, all investigative actions and proceed further with an indictment and a request for punishment in the competent court.
This is the Kosovo government’s official version of the steps being sought after the Serbian minister’s statement. So far, there is no public information on whether the prosecution has announced any concrete decision on this request.
In Belgrade too, a request for dismissal
Albanian MP in the Serbian Parliament, Shaip Kamberi, said that 53 opposition MPs have submitted to Serbian Prime Minister Gjuro Macut a request for Paunovic’s dismissal.
According to Kamberi’s announcement, the prime minister was asked to propose to the Serbian Parliament without delay the minister’s removal. However, it is still unclear whether the Serbian executive will actually move in this direction.
Observers speak of a broader pattern
According to observers from Kosovo and Serbia, this statement should not be seen as an isolated incident, but as part of a broader political pattern by Belgrade toward Kosovo.
In this reading, the international community is being asked not to be satisfied only with reaction statements, but to consider concrete measures toward Serbia as well. So far, it remains to be seen whether the strong reactions will translate into real political consequences.
The case has raised even more questions about the seriousness of the Kosovo-Serbia dialogue, at a time when the EU continues to present the process as a path toward normalization.
For the moment, the reactions are strong, but the real test will be whether the institutions in Prishtina, Belgrade and Brussels move from statements to action.