UNESCO General Conference session starts in Paris

UNESCO General Conference session starts in Paris

Serbian Foreign Minister Ivica Dacic will on November 4 take part in the debate on the general policy of UNESCO. According to him, the vote on Pristina's bid could be on the agenda around November 9.

Dacic "expressed optimism that the outcome of the vote will be favorable for Serbia, adding that Serbia will fight until the last moment to prevent Kosovo's admission to UNESCO," Beta reported.

"We are making great efforts to talk to as many countries as possible. Our goal is to present our arguments against Kosovo's membership in UNESCO to everyone," said Dacic, adding that "Serbia will fight to the end."

President Tomislav Nikolic said that the possible admission of the so-called "Republic of Kosovo" to UNESCO would divide the organization "and could hinder forever the establishment of good relations between Belgrade and Pristina."

The Executive Board of UNESCO on October 21 supported the request of Albania and recommended to the General Conference the admission of Kosovo. The decision making process in the General Conference is different than in the Executive Board, where 58 members always decide by a simple majority.

Out of the 58 states, 32 recognized recognized the unilaterally proclaimed independence of Kosovo, but only 27 voted in favor of recommending its admission to UNESCO, while 14 were against it. There were as many abstentions, the votes that are not counted.

In contrast, the General Conference has 195 countries, of which 111 have recognized Kosovo, 84 have not, and where the recommendation will require a two-thirds majority to pass.