Brussels Condemns Serbian Minister's Ethnic Cleansing Remarks

European Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos has strongly condemned a statement made by a Serbian minister regarding the ethnic cleansing of Kosovo. "I am truly shocked that this even has to be said in this situation," Kos stated in Brussels, emphasizing that there is "zero tolerance" for such rhetoric in Europe.

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For such statements, there can only be zero tolerance. There is no place in Europe for rhetoric that justifies, advocates, and glorifies ethnic cleansing, and I personally am truly shocked that this even has to be said in this situation.

Kos was responding to comments made by Snežana Paunović, a minister in the Serbian government, who said in an interview that she would have ethnically cleansed Kosovo in 1998 if she had been in Slobodan Milošević's place. Paunović elaborated that her approach would have involved encouraging those who did not feel part of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia to leave for their home countries, while those engaging in "terrorist actions" would be dealt with by the state.

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I would have ethnically cleansed Kosovo in 1998 if I had been in Slobodan Milošević's place.

Commissioner Kos declared that such statements are in direct opposition to the values of human dignity, reconciliation, and good neighborly relations that form the foundation of the European Union. She stressed that these values are essential for any country seeking to join the EU. Kos also noted that Paunović's remarks contradict Serbia's obligations within the EU accession process, including its commitment to the dialogue on normalizing relations with Kosovo.

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Those statements are in direct contradiction to the values of human dignity, reconciliation, which is sorely needed, responsibility, and good neighborly relations on which the European Union is founded and without which the accession process cannot happen.

While acknowledging that these might be the personal views of one minister and not necessarily those of the entire Serbian government, Kos urged political leaders to act responsibly. She called for restraint from inflammatory rhetoric and encouraged contributions to building trust, reconciliation, and regional stability. The commissioner made these remarks following an accession conference with Montenegro, which successfully closed two negotiation chapters.

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I can only assume that these are the views of one minister, and not the views of the Serbian government.