Serbian Minister Shocked by Statement That She Would Ethnically Cleanse Kosovo in 1998

VečerIndependent🔒Progressive4 hr. ago

The article discusses a statement made by a Serbian deputy prime minister and member of the Socialists' Party of Serbia (SPS), who claimed that if she were in the position of former Yugoslav leader Slobodan Milošević, she would have 'ethnically cleansed' Kosovo in 1998. The statement has sparked controversy, with parts of the opposition in Serbia calling it fascist and demanding her resignation. The European Union has condemned such rhetoric, emphasizing that Europe cannot tolerate speech that justifies ethnic cleansing. The European Commission's spokesperson stated that such comments contradict core EU values like human dignity and responsibility. Serbian Prime Minister Ivica Dačić, also head of the SPS, called the criticism of the minister 'shameful and insulting,' arguing that critics are silent about past ethnic cleansing of Kosovo Albanians by Serbs. The article notes that during the Kosovo War (1998–1999), around 13,000 civilians were killed, with over 1,500 still missing, primarily Albanians.

Bias read (Progressive): The article frames the minister's statement as a provocative and dangerous justification for ethnic cleansing, aligning with international condemnation and EU values. While the minister's words are presented as controversial, the article emphasizes the broader implications of such rhetoric and the S

Siol.netState / PublicConservative5 hr. ago

A Serbian state minister, Snežana Paunović, sparked strong reactions by stating during an interview that she would have 'ethnically cleansed Kosovo' in 1998 if she had been in the position of former Yugoslav president Slobodan Milošević. The statement led to demands for her resignation from parts of the opposition and criticism from the European Union, which warned against rhetoric supporting ethnic cleansing. Paunović clarified that she was not advocating such actions today but was referencing historical claims made by Milošević. She emphasized that the Socialist Party of Serbia (SPS) never supported ethnic cleansing and that current criticisms stem from anger and disappointment. Opposition members labeled her comments as fascist and called for legal action, while Kosovo’s Minister of Labor and Social Welfare condemned the remarks as a threat to Kosovo and evidence of Serbia still clinging to Milošević’s ideology. The European Commission reiterated that such rhetoric contradicts EU values.

Bias read (Conservative): The article frames the minister's controversial statement as a provocative remark that aligns with nationalist sentiments, emphasizing the historical context of Milošević's regime. While the content itself is politically charged, the framing leans toward defending nationalistic narratives and critic

N1 SlovenijaIndependentConservative6 hr. ago

Srbska ministrica za državno upravo in lokalno samoupravo Snežana Paunović je v intervjuju izrazila mnenje, da bi leta 1998 'etnično očistila Kosovo', kar je sprožilo ostré kritiko. Opozicijski predstavniki v Srbiji so zahtevali njen odstop, medtem ko je Evropska unija opozorila, da v Evropi ni prostora za retoriko, ki zagovarja etnično čiščenje. Paunović je poudarila, da Slobodan Milošević in Socialistična stranka Srbije (SPS) nikoli nista zagovarjala takšnega stališča, in dodala, da trenutni kritik njenih besed izraža žalost, jezo in razočaranje. Milošević je bil sodjen pred Mednarodnim kazenskim sodiščem zaradi zločinov proti človečini, a je umrl brez sodnega presuda. Kosovski minister Andin Hoti je ocenil, da izjava predstavlja grožnjo za Kosovo in dokaz, da Srbija še vedno ni otresla Miloševićeve ideologije. Evropska komisija je opomnila, da takšne izjave nasprotujejo vrednotam Evropske unije.

Bias read (Conservative): Artikel izraža kritiko proti izjavi ministrice Paunović, ki jo opisuje kot fašistično in grožnjo za Kosovo. Ključne izjave, kot so opomin na etnično čiščenje in povezava s Miloševićem, so postavljene v kontekst, ki podpira tradicionalno srbsko politično stališče. Evropska unija in kosovski politični

DeloIndependent🔒Conservative6 hr. ago

The article reports on a controversial statement by Serbia's Minister of State Administration and Local Self-Government, Snežana Paunović, who claimed during an interview that if she were in the position of former President Slobodan Milošević in 1998, she would have carried out ethnic cleansing in Kosovo. The statement has sparked strong reactions, including calls for her resignation from opposition parties in Serbia and condemnation from Kosovo's Minister of Labor, Family, and Values of the Liberation War, Andin Hoti. The European Commission has also criticized the remarks, stating they contradict EU values of human dignity and good neighborly relations. Serbian Prime Minister and leader of the Socialists Party, Ivica Dačić, defended Paunović, accusing critics of hypocrisy by ignoring past ethnic cleansing of Serbs from Kosovo.

Bias read (Conservative): The article frames the controversy around Paunović's statement as a defense of historical figures like Milošević, which aligns with nationalist narratives often associated with right-wing politics. While the article presents both criticism and defense, the emphasis on defending Milošević and downshy

Nova24TVParty-alignedConservative6 hr. ago

The Serbian Minister for State Administration and Local Self-Government, Snežana Paunović, a member of the Serbian Socialist Party (SPS), made a controversial statement during an interview with the television station Kurir on July 11, 2026, saying she would have ethnically cleansed Kosovo in 1998 if she had been Slobodan Milošević. She claimed she would have sent Albanians who did not feel like Yugoslav citizens back to their 'homeland' and liquidated terrorists in a manner similar to today’s practices. The statement sparked strong criticism across Serbia, Kosovo, and the wider region. Opposition parties demanded her immediate resignation for promoting hate speech and glorifying ethnic cleansing. In Kosovo, the statement caused widespread outrage, reopening wounds from the 1998–1999 war. The European Union condemned the rhetoric as unacceptable. From within the ruling coalition, Interior Minister and SPS leader Ivica Dačić stated that her words were misrepresented and taken out of context, emphasizing that she was not advocating for ethnic cleansing but discussing the difficult situation of Serbs in Kosovo after conflicts. Paunović defended her remarks, stating she does not renouce

Bias read (Conservative): The article presents a highly charged political statement by a high-ranking Serbian official regarding historical actions involving ethnic cleansing, which is a deeply divisive issue in the Balkans. The framing emphasizes the official's alignment with the SPS and its historical stance, while the ret

MladinaIndependentConservative22 hr. ago

The article reports on a controversial statement made by Serbia's Minister of State Administration and Local Self-Government, Snežana Paunović, who claimed that if she were in the position of former Yugoslav President Slobodan Milošević during 1998, she would have 'ethnically cleansed' Kosovo. The remark has sparked strong reactions, including demands for her resignation from opposition parties and warnings from the European Union against rhetoric that justifies ethnic cleansing. Paunović clarified that she does not advocate such actions and emphasized that Milošević’s legacy includes crimes against humanity. Opposition groups have labeled her comments as fascist, while Kosovo's Minister of Labor and Social Welfare condemned the remarks as a threat to Kosovo and evidence of Serbia still clinging to Milošević's ideology. The European Commission criticized the statement as incompatible with EU values, and Serbian Prime Minister Ivica Dačić accused critics of hypocrisy regarding past ethnic cleansing of Kosovo Serbs.

Bias read (Conservative): The article frames the controversy around Paunović's statement as a justification for ethnic cleansing, which aligns with right-wing narratives that often emphasize national sovereignty and historical grievances. While the statement itself is extreme, the article highlights the backlash from both EU