Kosovo has not applied for membership at the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
According to the Acting Minister for Foreign Affairs, Emanuel Demaj, the reasons for this were internal, respectively, lack of the approval of two laws, the one for religious freedoms and the law for cultural heritage.
Demaj rejected claims that Kosovo did not apply due to lack of support of the member states. He even added that Serbia is not the reason that Kosovo did not apply. “We are working and considering all the possibilities and options, I believe that we have a little more time to apply and we will see how things flow,’ Demaj said.
He added that lack of the constitution of the Assembly, would make the application impossible.
In November of 2015, Kosovo failed to become member of UNESCO due to the lack of additional three votes. The process was impeded by Serbia. UNESCO’s 21 session of the Assembly will gather in November in Paris. Two thirds from the 195 member states are required in order to accept Kosovo.
Kosovo has also applied for membership at the INTERPOL, however, despite the statements that sufficient votes for membership are assured, Demaj said that chances are not very optimistic.
“It is very true that there are going to be difficulties, because response from many pending states has not arrived. We will have a meeting this week with the Prime Minister and the President is informed and it remains to see all the reports that have arrived,” Demaj said. He added that things could change at the very last moment. “Everything about INTERPOL will be decided within this week,” Demaj said.
