Following numerous critics and comments after his statement about Kosovo’s membership in FIFA and UEFA, Minister for Local Government Administration in the Kosovo government, Ljubomir Marić, says that it is all about spinning aimed at depicting him as the one who thinks badly about Kosovo.

Marić’s statement that ‘Kosovo’s membership in sport associations FIFA and UEFA, was a political decision’ has outraged many in Pristina. Numerous comments against him have appeared in media and social networks, whereas the Prime Minister of Kosovo, Isa Mustafa, has said that such statement from a Kosovo government minister, is unacceptable. In a TV show ‘Dogovor’, Marić explained that it is not the first time that statements of Serb representatives in Kosovo institutions are negatively constructed, and added that the general public in Kosovo should instead be more focused on important things implemented by the Ministry.

Marić and other Serb representatives in Kosovo institutions, were also criticized for using the ‘Kosovo and Metohija’ term. He explained that they are using both terms, ‘Kosovo’ and ‘Kosovo and Metohija’ and that this is nothing bad and is of no importance to the general public. Marić also said that, even though there is a visible progress when it comes to mutual relations between Serbs and Albanians, there is still a negative climate. “For the creation of such climate, not only the media are to be blamed, but all are to be blamed. This is maybe a responsibility of all of us, however, I would call on the media to promote something that is positive”, said Marić.