Unnamed international sources told the news site today that Kosovo’s Foreign Minister and First Deputy Prime Minister, Hashim Thaci, is believed to be responsible for Kosovo’s failure to join the UNESCO. According to these sources, without receiving prior signals from Kosovo’s friends, Thaci tried to force his way to the post of Kosovo President by attempting to secure Kosovo’s membership of the UNESCO. “Without certain votes and without a ‘go-ahead’ from countries that support Kosovo, Hashim Thaci decided to apply for UNESCO membership. The United States of America and several other countries advised Thaci that now is not the right time for this. He however didn’t take this into consideration and as a result Kosovo’s bid failed ... The United States made it clear to Thaci that he cannot have a leading role in the process, as he had with Kosovo's membership of the IMF and the World Bank,” the source said.