Kosovo demands EU action on Serbian minister

Kosovo is pushing the European Union to punish a Serbian minister who said she would have ethnically cleansed Kosovo in 1998.

Kosovo has sued Snežana Paunović and permanently banned her from entering the country.

Kosovo’s government asked the EU to address the extreme language during Serbia's membership talks. An EU commissioner condemned the remarks, saying she was shocked Paunović is still in office.

Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić distanced his government from the comments. At the same time, over 50 Serbian opposition lawmakers formally demanded the minister's removal.

Paunović refused to take back her words, claiming she was misunderstood.

Her statements reopen deep wounds. The 1998-1999 Kosovo war killed more than 13,000 people and left 1,500 still missing.