Serwer slams media close to Vucic for referring Albanians with a racist slur

English

Gazeta Express

10/12/2020 9:42

Daniel Serwer, a professor at Johns Hopkins University has reacted after Serbian daily Informer criticised him for siding with Kosovo and referred Albanians with the derogatory term “siptari.”

Serwer in a statement posted on Twitter asked how Serbia claims sovereignty over Kosovo when its media refer to 90 percent of their population with a racist slur, referring to the derogatory term “siptari” for Albanians used commonly by Serb state-controlled media in Serbia.   

“I really don’t mind the “asking Serbia to recognize Kosovo and abolish Srpska” part. That’s accurate. The tell here is the use of a racist term for Albanians. How do you claim sovereignty over a population that is 90% people you refer to with a racist slur?” Serwer wrote on  Twitter.

The Belgrade-based daily controlled by Serbian president Aleksandar Vucic, has published a front-page article under the headline “”Hellish plans from Washington: Siptar Evil asking Serbia to recognize of Kosovo and abolish Srpska.”

Serbian president Vucic speaking about changes in the US administration said that Serbia will face a bigger pressure to recognise Kosovo’s independence, adding that he was right when stated that if Joe Biden wins US presidential Elections this will not be favourable for Serbia.

A day after, Informer published in its front-page photos of the US congressman Elliot Engel, former US state secretary Madalaine Albright and Serwer accusing them of plotting a “Hellish plan” against Serbia. Media in Belgrade are extensively reporting on a hearing held on 8 December by the House Foreign Affairs Committee dedicated to Balkan policy recommendations for the incoming Biden administration. According to media in Belgrade Engel, is trying to help Kosovo before his retirement by imposing his opinions to Biden’s administration. /GazetaExpress/