The Republic of Kosovo has formally declared Snezhana Paunović, the Serbian Minister of Public Administration and Local Self-Government, persona non grata. This decision prohibits her from entering or transiting through the territory of Kosovo. The action was announced by the acting Minister of Interior, Xhelal Sveçla.
The measure followed remarks attributed to Minister Paunović, wherein she reportedly stated that she would “ethnically cleanse Kosovo in 1998” if she held the position of Slobodan Milošević. According to the acting Minister of Interior, Paunović’s comments are viewed not as isolated statements but as representative of a broader state policy. Sveçla asserted that such rhetoric constitutes a continuation of actions that, in his view, have historically fueled violence, crimes, and efforts to displace the Albanian population from their lands within Kosovo.
The declaration of non grata status marks a significant diplomatic escalation between the two nations. By implementing this measure, Kosovo asserts its sovereign right to restrict the presence of foreign officials whose public statements it deems threatening to the region’s stability or ethnic composition. The government emphasized that the declaration is a direct response to rhetoric perceived as inciting historical grievances and undermining the current political climate in Kosovo.
Topics: #kosovo #non #grata
