Former Serbian Ambassador in UNESCO, Darko Tanaskovic told Radio Beograd that the issue of Kosovo and Metohija admission in UNESCO is not resolved. He expects a new request for membership would be submitted next year, adding it is a strategic aim of Pristina authorities and their international mentors.

“That would include repetition, under slightly changed circumstances, of everything we went through in Paris in 2015 and 2017, when our cultural heritage was in the center of attention, but not only that. It is a political issue, is there a possibility to secure enough votes, so that Kosovo becomes member of UNESCO. My impression and assessment is if they would submit that request today, Kosovo would certainly not be able to win two-thirds majority at UNESCO General Assembly, Tanaskovic said.

He underlined, although Serbian cultural heritage in Kosovo is under UNESCO protection, it is still in danger, and it is clear it is being jeopardized by those who are in power.

“And then we end up in an absurd situation, in which some states, due to purely political reasons, pledge for Kosovo to become a member of the international institution of culture and heritage, although they are very well aware that the Serbian cultural heritage and people in Kosovo are endangered. And they voted that our cultural heritage is placed on UNESCO protection list. These are double standards,” Ambassador Tanaskovic underlined.