Abstaining countries indirectly help Pristina (Vecernje Novosti)
UNESCO Secretariat didn’t receive the Kosovo application to become a member of this UN Organization, learned Novosti in Paris. On the other side Pristina announced that it sent application a week ago.
Due to this intention of Kosovo officials, Serbian diplomacy is “in action”. As stated, it is important to provide that countries, which are abstained to support Pristina, vote against that proposal. If countries would remain abstained, it would indirectly pave the way to the Kosovo membership in the UNESCO.
This time, mathematics is not in the favor of Belgrade, since out of 58 members of the UNESCO Executive Board 33 recognized Kosovo independence. If Kosovo request arrive in Paris and UNESCO Secretary General Irina Bokova forward it to the EB, it will be sufficient that only one member of this body suggest including of this issue in the agenda. The next step is General Conference where out of 195 members Kosovo was recognized by 111.
According to the information from the diplomatic circles, not all the countries that have recognized Pristina would vote for its membership in UNESCO. On the other side there is a counter-example of Greece, which didn’t recognize Kosovo independence, but promised support in the UNESCO. For membership is required two third majority, without abstained votes.