Kosovo sues Serbian minister over ethnic cleansing remarks

Kosovo has initiated legal action against a Serbian minister over alleged statements promoting ethnic cleansing during the 1990s conflict. The lawsuit targets Serbian Minister of Public Administration Snezana Paunovic, whose remarks have ignited widespread protests and drawn condemnation from Brussels.

Paunovic's controversial statement, made in an interview with a Belgrade-based television channel, suggested she would have carried out ethnic cleansing in Kosovo if she had been in the position of former Serbian leader Slobodan Milosevic during the 1998-1999 war. "If I were in Milosevic's place in 1998, I would have carried out ethnic cleansing in Kosovo. Those are the harshest words I have ever spoken," Paunovic stated.

These comments have led to significant backlash, including a ban on Paunovic entering Kosovo, the country of her birth. Kosovo's Minister of Justice, Donika Gervalla, announced that charges of inciting division and hatred have been filed with prosecutors. Gervalla emphasized the "serious historical, legal, and humanitarian implications" of the minister's statements.

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If I were in Milosevic's place in 1998, I would have carried out ethnic cleansing in Kosovo. Those are the harshest words I have ever spoken.

The British Foreign Ministry described the remarks as "utterly disgusting" and stated they have no place in contemporary society. Despite calls for her resignation, Paunovic issued an apology on Thursday for causing difficulties for the government but stopped short of retracting her statement.

The legal action underscores the deep-seated tensions and historical grievances between Kosovo and Serbia, particularly concerning events during the conflict in the late 1990s. The case highlights the ongoing sensitivity surrounding ethnic relations and past atrocities in the region.

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The statements carry serious historical, legal and humanitarian implications.