UNESCO did not approve at today’s General Conference voting Kosovo’s membership in the organization. Kosovo’s application received 92 out of the required 95 votes while 50 countries opposed the motion. Kosovo’s Foreign Minister Hashim Thaci wrote on his Facebook account that despite the vote result, the vast majority of countries did vote in favour of Kosovo’s membership. “Kosovo’s path is unstoppable and we will apply and gain membership in other organisations as well, including UNESCO,” said Thaci.

Kosovo failed to win needed two-third majority of votes for membership in UNESCO at organization’s general conference in Paris. 92 states voted yes and 50 voted no, out of 142 states that participated in voting, whereas 29 states abstained from voting.

Russian Federation considers that admission of Kosovo in UNESCO would constitute violation of the valid United Nations Security Council Resolution 1244, said Russian Ambassador to Serbia Aleksandar Chepurin. He further said that Russia considers Serbia’s stand legitimate and just and pays a lot of attention to this issue. He also added that Russia will support Serbia in what Belgrade finds necessary for defending its national interests.

The Kosovo Police has strengthened security at cultural heritage and religious sites to prevent possible incidents ahead of voting on Kosovo’s membership in UNESCO. Security has been stepped up at religious sites to prevent possible incidents from taking place, Kosovo Police spokesperson Daut Hodza said, adding that the measures are necessary in order to maintain a peaceful situation.

Statement of Ulrike Lunacek in her interview with Radio Free Europe two days ago that Serbian religious and cultural heritage will be better protected if Kosovo becomes members of the UNESCO is only a fake argument of those who are pushing for Kosovo’s membership in UNESCO, said Serbian Foreign Minister Ivica Dačić.

Political analyst from Pristina Behlul Beqaj said yesterday that the best way forward would be if the Venice Commission would give its opinion on the Agreement on creation of the association of municipalities with Serb majority.

Adoption of the amendment of the Law on Stabilization Association Agreement by the Kosovo parliament, which was not supported by the Serbian List, doesn’t mean that Pristina would be presented at international gatherings as the Republic of Kosovo. Amendment on the Law on ratification of the SAA, which provides that Kosovo would be presented as Republic of Kosovo, instead of Kosovo with asterisk won’t have any legal consequences, claims Minister for Communities and Return in the Kosovo government Dalibor Jevtić.

EU representatives said that amendments of the Stabilization Association Agreement, which is signed with Kosovo, are not possible. There is no dilemma for the EU, the only valid SAA with Kosovo is the one which Brussels offered and both sides have signed, with asterisk near Kosovo, which doesn’t prejudice the status of Kosovo. “We have published the SAA already in April,’ said spokesperson of the EU High Representative Maja Kocijančič.

The head of the EU Delegation to Serbia Michael Davenport received a delegation of the Association of families of kidnapped and missing persons in Kosovo and Metohija, headed by the chairperson of the Association, Simo Spasić. Association introduced Davenport with problems with regard to kidnapped, missing and murdered persons in period 1998-2000 and in 2004 in Kosovo and Meothija, and presented data on numbers of victims and information on their abductions and murder.

Assembly of the Autonomous Province of Kosovo and Metohija (AP KiM) said in a statement that ratification of the Stabilization Association Agreement between Kosovo and the European Union presents recognition of Kosovo’s independence by the regime of Serbian Prime Minister Aleksandar Vučić.