Serbian language media outlet “Happytv.rs” (close to the government in Serbia – see here, here and here) published an article yesterday (August 3) with a statement by the Serbian Minister of Defense, Miloš Vučević, who claims that, as stated, the Kurti regime continues with the agenda of ethnic cleansing of Kosovo by Serbs.
Vučević made this claim by interpreting the lack of products originating from Serbia (including medicines) in northern Kosovo (see here).
Also, the claim made is attempted to be linked to the case of a shortage of medicines during the war period (1992) in Banja Luka, Bosnia and Herzegovina.
However, after fact-checking by hibrid.info, it turns out that the claim that the lack of medicines in the northern part of Kosovo is part of, as it is stated, Kurti's agenda for ethnic cleansing of Serbs, comparing it to the case of Banja Luka, has no arguable facts.
Link to the article published on "happytv.rs":
Parts of the article published on "happytv.rs":
Albin Kurti's regime continued with the agenda of ethnic cleansing of Kosovo and Metohija by Serbs. For now, the indirect model "Storm" is working, creating an atmosphere where people say they cannot survive. This reminds us of the events of Banja Luka in 1992, when the lives of babies were at risk, the famous battle for the corridor when medicines could not be delivered. After 31 years you have a situation where someone does not allow medicines for citizens - said Vučević.
Vučević links his claim about the ethnic cleansing of Serbs in Kosovo to the lack of products of Serbian origin (including medicines) in northern Kosovo.
As is known, the lack of Serbian products in northern Kosovo is a consequence of the Kosovo Government's decision on June 14 to ban the import of goods from Serbia. As has been warned, such a decision was taken for security reasons, not economic ones, and it is not known how long it will remain in force.
This is not the first time that Kosovo authorities have taken a decision to ban the import of goods from Serbia, but so far the so-called "alternative routes" in northern Kosovo have been used for import (here).
After several actions against smuggling of goods, the Kosovo Police in cooperation with customs have put the "alternative routes" between Kosovo and Serbia under strict control.
The latest case was in Leposavic, a municipality inhabited by a Serb majority in the north of the country, when Kosovo Police stopped a vehicle with Serbian license plates, driven by a Serbian citizen. (here)
So, the lack of medicines in the north is a result of the cessation of smuggling of Serbian goods using alternative routes, not as a result of an agenda for ethnic cleansing of Serbs in the north.
Minister Vučević compares this situation to an event in 1992 in Banja Luka. As is known, in 1992 in Banja Luka, in a war situation, due to a lack of oxygen for treatment, 12 babies died in the maternity ward. The decision of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) in May and June 1992 banned international flights, even those with oxygen bottles, from Belgrade to Banja Luka, as a result of which 12 newborn babies who were in incubators died. (here)
Meanwhile, the comparison is unstable due to the fact that we are not in a war situation and that the lack of medicines produced in Serbia is not a consequence of the war but rather an interruption of smuggling in northern Kosovo.
This connection of Vučević with the lack of Serbian products and the comparison with the case in Banja Luka in 1992 does not imply the existence of a plan by the "Kurti regime for ethnic cleansing."
Vucic, apart from his claim, does not provide concrete evidence of the existence of a plan to purge Serbs or any development that proves pressure on Serbs to leave.
Analyze:
The facts show that the decision to ban the import of Serbian products was made to stop smuggling in the north and extend the rule of law in the north, and not part of a plan for ethnic cleansing of Serbs.
While Minister Vucevic compares this situation to the 1992 event in Banja Luka during a war situation, the situation in the north does not imply the same situation, so it is not a state of war.
Based on its work methodology, hibrid.info considers this claim to be "misinformation".
Rating:
A “Disinformation” rating is given to media reporting that contains a “mix” of inaccurate sources or even half-truthful content. This rating will also address reports that have incorrect attributions or headlines that do not reflect the text in terms of information accuracy.