Kosovo’s Deputy Foreign Minister, Petrit Selimi, visited Rome and Vatican as part of lobbying for Kosovo to secure the support of the Holy See and Italy for Kosovo's membership in UNESCO.  "The United States, France, Britain, Germany and Italy are on our side in our battle to join UNESCO. The battle will be tough, but we will succeed, " Selimi told the Italian news agency ANSA. ''On 11 September we will know if our application will be included in the agenda of the Executive Committee,'' Selimi said, adding that in this first phase, the necessary votes 'are only 29 out of 58. ''I have no reason to think that Rome will not vote in favour,” he added. "The Holy See's approval of Kosovo's request for accession into UNESCO would be very important. The best way to protect the Christian heritage in Kosovo is to let us become members of UNESCO,” Selimi said.