The statement of Prime Minister of the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) Zoran Zaev that his country would opt to remain neutral regarding Kosovo’s bid to join UNESCO, has caused reaction among the Albanian community, reports Koha.

Ejup Alimi, coordinator of the Democratic Union for Integration (BDI) parliamentary group, commented on Zaev’s statement saying that “whoever speaks of opposing Kosovo, even if it is about its bid to join international organisations like UNESCO, has spoken against all Albanians”. Alimi said the FYROM government’s decisions are not of one person or one political party but of the entire political spectrum.

At the same time, political analyst Valon Bela said Zaev cannot disregard the views of the Albanian parties in FYROM without which “he would still be in the opposition”.

In 2015, Kosovo failed in its bid to join UNESCO after it fell three votes short of the required two-thirds majority. FYROM’s ambassador to France at the time voted in favour of Kosovo’s membership.