The UNESCO Executive Board has included today in its agenda the proposal to recommend Kosovo’s membership at this organization.

During the debate on the agenda, Russia, China, Cuba and Argentina, expressed their disapproval for Kosovo’s membership at UNESCO. The proposal for Kosovo’s membership can be voted around 20 October, prior to the conclusion of the meeting of the Executive Council, on 22 October. The decision is brought based on majority of votes. The final decision for Kosovo’s membership at UNESCO is made by the UNESCO’s General Conference, which convenes from 3 to 18 November.  The General Conference is comprised by 195 member states and 6 associate ones, while acceptance of Kosovo requires two thirds of the majority.

The request for Kosovo’s membership was formally presented by Albania, and it is supported by 45 countries, among them the U.S., Germany, Great Britain, France, Austria, Slovenia, Ireland, Holland, Luxemburg, Denmark, Finland, Sweden, Turkey as well as Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. The proposal is also supported by United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, Belize, Burkina Faso, Chad, Cost Arica, Ivory Coast, Dominican Republic, Salvador, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guinea, Haiti, Honduras, Jordan, Lesotho, Oman, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Senegal, Somalia, Southern Sudan, Togo, Tanzania and Vanuatu.