The success of a ‘tough diplomatic battle’ of Belgrade against Kosovo’s membership in UNESCO that was announced by the Serbian Foreign Minister Ivica Dačić will be at the first test this week. UNESCO’s Executive Board will gather in Paris on 7 October at its 197th session, where Kosovo’s request for membership in that organization, submitted by Albania in behalf of Kosovo, would be on the preliminary agenda. UNESCO Executive Board will review the preliminary agenda, whereas the decision about the final topics that will be discussed will be brought at the first plenary session on 12 October, the day ahead of the next round of dialogue in Brussels between Belgrade and Pristina, where Belgrade would request opening of negotiations about the Serbian Orthodox Church’s property in Kosovo and Metohija.

“The fact that next round of political dialogue is due to take place exactly at the time when UNESCO’s Executive Board is set to decide about placing Kosovo’s membership request on the daily agenda, is in no way a recommendation for meeting that request, foremost because it is expected that one of the topics in talks in Brussels could be and Serbian Orthodox cultural heritage in the province. Serbia insists that political issues should not be discussed in UENSCO, instead they should be discussed at first place in Brussels, whereas complex thematic of the status of the Serbian cultural heritage in Kosovo and Metohija is very much political, and not only cultural issue. Starting from providing its physical protection in a hostile environment, through legally regulated status – it can in no way become ‘property of the state of Kosovo’ as was envisaged by the draft law on cultural heritage, until the property issues, as there were announcements that Serbian Orthodox Church’s ownership over churches and monasteries could be brought into question. All this issues should be discussed during the dialogue in Brussels,” explained Serbia’s Ambassador to UNESCO, Darko Tanasković.

In the Serbian Ministry of Foreign Affairs say that in the diplomatic struggle against Kosovo’s membership in UNESCO, that is carried out at all levels, apart of the Ministry, are engaged and Serbia’s permanent mission to UNESCO in Paris, along with all other diplomatic and consular representations of Serbia throughout the world. In the Ministry were reluctant to comment on why, despite all Belgrade’s efforts, Pristina is lately receiving more and more support for its UNESCO membership.

If Pristina’s request is set on the agenda of the Executive Board on 12 October and receives recommendation by simple majority, out of 58 member states of this body, final decision about Kosovo’s membership in UNESCO would be brought at the General Assembly of UNESCO at its 38 session, which is due to take place from 3 to 18 November.