Kosovo has declared the Serbian minister of Public Administration and Local Self-Government, Snezhana Paunović, “persona non grata,” effectively banning her entry and transit through the territory of the Republic of Kosovo. This decision followed statements made by Paunović, wherein she reportedly stated that she would “ethnically cleanse Kosovo in 1998” if she were in the position of Slobodan Milošević. The acting Minister of Interior, Xhelal Sveçla, characterized the Serbian minister’s declaration as indicative of a sustained state policy.
According to Sveçla, this policy has historically resulted in violence, crimes, and efforts to displace Albanians from their lands over several decades. In a notice published on Facebook, Sveçla announced that he had signed the official decision to declare Paunović an undesirable person. As Minister of Interior, Sveçla’s actions underscore the political tensions between Kosovo and Serbia.
The declaration serves as a formal measure by Kosovo against the Serbian official. The ruling solidifies Kosovo’s stance regarding the rhetoric used by high-ranking Serbian government figures concerning the region’s ethnic composition and history.
Topics: #kosovo #minister #serbian
