FM: Albania files request for Kosovo's UNESCO admission

"He noted that, according to formal law, Kosovo has no right to be an UNESCO member because the United Nations has not only never made such a proposal, but has also declined to support Kosovo's proposal."

Hmm, with Palestine, we already have another not-recognized self-proclaimed state as UNESCO member, so Kosovo would not completely be a case sui generis.

Finally Kosovo and Albania is getting back what was stolen from them long time ago.

Serbian government should be prosecuted for the crimes against humanity. Serbia is slowly crashing down as a country along with its only ally Greece.

Kosovo and Albania are supported and have allies the most powerful countries like USA and England.

The beautiful country of Greater Albania is on the rise and it's just the beginning.

Many things do not add up, but one really stands out. Serbs claim Kosovo to be their Jerusalem per say, or their most holly piece of land on earth. On the other hand, when you look at demographics, Albanians have always dominated Kosovo. During Yugoslavias Unification, after the war and a trend is telling us Serbs will only decrease ad far as numbers go.

I personally believe Serbs should always exist in Kosovo, as many as would like to. Same goes for Albanians as well.

For Serbs to point out their monasteries, and other facts that point in the direction that Kosovo is nothing but Serbian do not add up. You can't claim Kosovo is your Jerusalem yet you've abandoned Kosovo. Institutions are in place by Kosovos government (most likely not by their choice) and EUs to return Serbs back to Kosovo those that were forced out which, I might add is a small number, most left because there is no future in Kosovo anytime soon.

In conclusion, I would state that Serbian officials are really using Kosovo and Serbs there, like a hockey stick to get rid of obstacles that are standing against serbian officials personal interest. Whether you spit out a few national statements to gain popularity or whatever it may be, fact of the matter is people like Dacic are not in it for the sake of Serbians.

You cannot claim that which is not yours. The monasteries and treasures are Serbian and built by Serbs. The Serbian Orthodox Church belongs to Serbians. You will never be able to steal history or memories. Kosovo is Serbia.

Normally the outcome would be inevitable, the Albanians would get what they want. But just this once, Serbia might have a trump card. The new UN Secretary General will be elected next year with the position reserved for an Eastern European. The Bulgarian Head of UNESCO Irina Bokova is one of the favourites. If Kosovo joins UNESCO on her watch, Russia will veto her candidacy on the spot.

It will definitely be a difficult, almost impossible battle for Serbia.
The Executive Board of UNESCO has 58 members all have one vote and no veto ability.
Out of the 58, 35 have recognized Kosovo Independence. Of the 23 countries that have not, Serbia can count on 7 no votes and 16 could go either way but most leaning toward Kosovo.
So the recommendation of the Executive Board is probably a sure thing.
They require a 2/3 vote from General Counsel of 195 members which means that Serbia must be able to obtain a minimum of 66 no votes to block Kosovo.
Contrary to the words of the all knowing Dacic, the charter of UNESCO lays out the rules for members of non UN states, thus he is lying when he says it is illegal for Kosovo to join.

Dacic "noted that, according to formal law, Kosovo has no right to be an UNESCO member because the United Nations has not only never made such a proposal, but has also declined to support Kosovo's proposal."

Poor Ivica is loosing it... Not sure what "formal law" he is referring to or most likely he just made it up!

According to UNESCO "States that are not members of United Nations may be admitted to UNESCO, upon recommendation of the Executive Board, by a two-thirds majority vote of the General Conference"

It says nowhere that a UN proposal or support is needed. So if the UNESCO's Executive Board recommends Kosovo for UNESCO membership and 2/3 of the UNESCO's General Conference approves it, where is the problem?!

Normally the outcome would be inevitable, the Albanians would get what they want. But just this once, Serbia might have a trump card. The new UN Secretary General will be elected next year with the position reserved for an Eastern European. The Bulgarian Head of UNESCO Irina Bokova is one of the favourites. If Kosovo joins UNESCO on her watch, Russia will veto her candidacy on the spot.
(John, 14 September 2015 21:31)
A very desperate grasp at straws, I would say.
As director general should she show such fear, of Russia's veto would surely earn her one from one of the other members. You have 3 veto wielding members who strongly back Kosovo, so there would be more to lose than alienating Russia. Also she is the head of the organization but she could not herself block such an action if it received the overwhelming support it is probably going to get.
As it stands there are 35 or the 58 members of the Executive Board that have recognized Kosovo, so it will easily pass there. Serbia must come up with 66 no's in the General Council to block Kosovo. Possible but not probable. And there is no veto capability in UNESCO it is 1 country, 1 vote regardless of size or contributions.
I say your trump card is a dud.

On the other side Serbs are going mad and confused. They are making up stuff as they go, even though, according to Brussels Agreement Kosovo has the right to join international organizations. Few days ago Azem Vllasi said something interesting "Serbs will sign in Brussels anything they get in front to sign but later on with be against it".

Normally the outcome would be inevitable, the Albanians would get what they want. But just this once, Serbia might have a trump card. The new UN Secretary General will be elected next year with the position reserved for an Eastern European. The Bulgarian Head of UNESCO Irina Bokova is one of the favourites. If Kosovo joins UNESCO on her watch, Russia will veto her candidacy on the spot.
(John, 14 September 2015 21:31)
John, I am sorry buddy but this is a very naïve comment. You are hoping to win the case because a Bulgarian possibly will be elected as head of UNESCO. Sorry to burst your bubble but this argument is very childish.
First, you don't know her position on Kosova and only because she is Bulgarian doesn't really mean that she will be pro-Serbian.
Second and the most important, it doesn't really matter who is the head of the organization, donors win all the time. There is a reason why they donate money.
Third, as many other people pointed out here, there is a voting process and Ms. Bulgarina does not have enough power to persuade members to change their votes.
You need to upgrade your vision pal. The power of one is a thing of the past.

You cannot claim that which is not yours. The monasteries and treasures are Serbian and built by Serbs. The Serbian Orthodox Church belongs to Serbians. You will never be able to steal history or memories. Kosovo is Serbia.
(Dragan, Toronto, 14 September 2015 16:21)
I don't think that anyone is going to claim Serbian monasteries or property of the Serbian Orthodox Church. But the fact is that the ones in Kosovo are IN Kosovo. They are a part of Kosovo history, they are a part of Kosovo heritage. Those facts cannot be changed. The ownership of whatever belongs to the Serbian orthodox is not going to change with admission to UNESCO.
Kosovo is Serbia--a dream, a thing of the past, not really believed outside of Serbia, even those who do not recognize Kosovo consider it a UN protectorate.
But while it is doubtful, once a member of UNESCO, Kosovo could withdraw the sites from the list of UNESCO and either resubmit or submit other sites.

You cannot claim that which is not yours. The monasteries and treasures are Serbian and built by Serbs. The Serbian Orthodox Church belongs to Serbians. You will never be able to steal history or memories. Kosovo is Serbia.

Finally Kosovo and Albania is getting back what was stolen from them long time ago.

Serbian government should be prosecuted for the crimes against humanity. Serbia is slowly crashing down as a country along with its only ally Greece.

Kosovo and Albania are supported and have allies the most powerful countries like USA and England.

The beautiful country of Greater Albania is on the rise and it's just the beginning.

Normally the outcome would be inevitable, the Albanians would get what they want. But just this once, Serbia might have a trump card. The new UN Secretary General will be elected next year with the position reserved for an Eastern European. The Bulgarian Head of UNESCO Irina Bokova is one of the favourites. If Kosovo joins UNESCO on her watch, Russia will veto her candidacy on the spot.

Many things do not add up, but one really stands out. Serbs claim Kosovo to be their Jerusalem per say, or their most holly piece of land on earth. On the other hand, when you look at demographics, Albanians have always dominated Kosovo. During Yugoslavias Unification, after the war and a trend is telling us Serbs will only decrease ad far as numbers go.

I personally believe Serbs should always exist in Kosovo, as many as would like to. Same goes for Albanians as well.

For Serbs to point out their monasteries, and other facts that point in the direction that Kosovo is nothing but Serbian do not add up. You can't claim Kosovo is your Jerusalem yet you've abandoned Kosovo. Institutions are in place by Kosovos government (most likely not by their choice) and EUs to return Serbs back to Kosovo those that were forced out which, I might add is a small number, most left because there is no future in Kosovo anytime soon.

In conclusion, I would state that Serbian officials are really using Kosovo and Serbs there, like a hockey stick to get rid of obstacles that are standing against serbian officials personal interest. Whether you spit out a few national statements to gain popularity or whatever it may be, fact of the matter is people like Dacic are not in it for the sake of Serbians.

"He noted that, according to formal law, Kosovo has no right to be an UNESCO member because the United Nations has not only never made such a proposal, but has also declined to support Kosovo's proposal."

Hmm, with Palestine, we already have another not-recognized self-proclaimed state as UNESCO member, so Kosovo would not completely be a case sui generis.

Normally the outcome would be inevitable, the Albanians would get what they want. But just this once, Serbia might have a trump card. The new UN Secretary General will be elected next year with the position reserved for an Eastern European. The Bulgarian Head of UNESCO Irina Bokova is one of the favourites. If Kosovo joins UNESCO on her watch, Russia will veto her candidacy on the spot.
(John, 14 September 2015 21:31)
John, I am sorry buddy but this is a very naïve comment. You are hoping to win the case because a Bulgarian possibly will be elected as head of UNESCO. Sorry to burst your bubble but this argument is very childish.
First, you don't know her position on Kosova and only because she is Bulgarian doesn't really mean that she will be pro-Serbian.
Second and the most important, it doesn't really matter who is the head of the organization, donors win all the time. There is a reason why they donate money.
Third, as many other people pointed out here, there is a voting process and Ms. Bulgarina does not have enough power to persuade members to change their votes.
You need to upgrade your vision pal. The power of one is a thing of the past.

On the other side Serbs are going mad and confused. They are making up stuff as they go, even though, according to Brussels Agreement Kosovo has the right to join international organizations. Few days ago Azem Vllasi said something interesting "Serbs will sign in Brussels anything they get in front to sign but later on with be against it".

It will definitely be a difficult, almost impossible battle for Serbia.
The Executive Board of UNESCO has 58 members all have one vote and no veto ability.
Out of the 58, 35 have recognized Kosovo Independence. Of the 23 countries that have not, Serbia can count on 7 no votes and 16 could go either way but most leaning toward Kosovo.
So the recommendation of the Executive Board is probably a sure thing.
They require a 2/3 vote from General Counsel of 195 members which means that Serbia must be able to obtain a minimum of 66 no votes to block Kosovo.
Contrary to the words of the all knowing Dacic, the charter of UNESCO lays out the rules for members of non UN states, thus he is lying when he says it is illegal for Kosovo to join.

Dacic "noted that, according to formal law, Kosovo has no right to be an UNESCO member because the United Nations has not only never made such a proposal, but has also declined to support Kosovo's proposal."

Poor Ivica is loosing it... Not sure what "formal law" he is referring to or most likely he just made it up!

According to UNESCO "States that are not members of United Nations may be admitted to UNESCO, upon recommendation of the Executive Board, by a two-thirds majority vote of the General Conference"

It says nowhere that a UN proposal or support is needed. So if the UNESCO's Executive Board recommends Kosovo for UNESCO membership and 2/3 of the UNESCO's General Conference approves it, where is the problem?!

Normally the outcome would be inevitable, the Albanians would get what they want. But just this once, Serbia might have a trump card. The new UN Secretary General will be elected next year with the position reserved for an Eastern European. The Bulgarian Head of UNESCO Irina Bokova is one of the favourites. If Kosovo joins UNESCO on her watch, Russia will veto her candidacy on the spot.
(John, 14 September 2015 21:31)
A very desperate grasp at straws, I would say.
As director general should she show such fear, of Russia's veto would surely earn her one from one of the other members. You have 3 veto wielding members who strongly back Kosovo, so there would be more to lose than alienating Russia. Also she is the head of the organization but she could not herself block such an action if it received the overwhelming support it is probably going to get.
As it stands there are 35 or the 58 members of the Executive Board that have recognized Kosovo, so it will easily pass there. Serbia must come up with 66 no's in the General Council to block Kosovo. Possible but not probable. And there is no veto capability in UNESCO it is 1 country, 1 vote regardless of size or contributions.
I say your trump card is a dud.

You cannot claim that which is not yours. The monasteries and treasures are Serbian and built by Serbs. The Serbian Orthodox Church belongs to Serbians. You will never be able to steal history or memories. Kosovo is Serbia.
(Dragan, Toronto, 14 September 2015 16:21)
I don't think that anyone is going to claim Serbian monasteries or property of the Serbian Orthodox Church. But the fact is that the ones in Kosovo are IN Kosovo. They are a part of Kosovo history, they are a part of Kosovo heritage. Those facts cannot be changed. The ownership of whatever belongs to the Serbian orthodox is not going to change with admission to UNESCO.
Kosovo is Serbia--a dream, a thing of the past, not really believed outside of Serbia, even those who do not recognize Kosovo consider it a UN protectorate.
But while it is doubtful, once a member of UNESCO, Kosovo could withdraw the sites from the list of UNESCO and either resubmit or submit other sites.