
European Union Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos has reacted to the scandalous statement made by Serbian Minister Snezhana Paunovic, who yesterday during a television show stated that "if she were in Slobodan Milosevic's place in 1998, she would ethnically cleanse Kosovo."
Kos said that the Serbian minister's statements are unacceptable and contrary to the values ??on which the European Union is built.
The commissioner also said that she is shocked that such statements still have to be heard today.
" There can only be zero tolerance for statements like the ones we've heard. And there is no place in Europe for rhetoric that justifies, advocates or glorifies ethnic cleansing. I am personally shocked that this even has to be said in this situation."
"Such statements are in direct contradiction to human values ??and dignity, the necessary reconciliation, accountability and good neighborly relations on which the EU is built and without which the accession process cannot happen ," Kos said.
Kos further stated that he wants to believe that the Serbian minister's statements are a personal stance and not an official position of the Serbian Government.
" These are also contrary to Serbia's obligations from the EU-facilitated dialogue for the normalization of relations with Kosovo. I can only assume that these are the positions of a minister and do not represent the position of the Serbian government."
"We expect political leaders to act responsibly, refrain from inflammatory language and contribute to building trust, reconciliation and stability in the region ," declared Marta Kos.