The draft resolution, recommending Kosovo’s membership as the newest UNESCO member, was adopted by 27 to 14 votes by the organization’s executive board.
Belgrade has fiercely opposed Kosovo’s membership in UNESCO, claiming that “Serbian churches and monasteries in Kosovo are part of the Orthodox Church heritage and any occupation of this heritage would be a real violation of the existence of the most important religious, cultural and historical facilities of Serbian people.”
Today’s vote to recommend Kosovo as full member state paves the way for a final vote at the UNESCO’s general conference on November 3-18.
The UNESCO-s general conference includes 195 member states and a positive decision on Kosovo’s bid requires two thirds of votes.