| |     ћирилица | latinica  
Home
Why Kosovo is ineligible for membership in UNESCO

 

 

• Because the request for its membership is a serious breach of the international law, the Constitution of UNESCO, the legally binding UN Security Council resolution 1244 (1999) and the Charier of the UN whose Article 25 says that "The Members of the UN agree to accept and carry out the decisions of the Security Council in accordance with the present Charter".
• Because according to the UN Security Council resolution 1244, which reaffirms the sovereignty and territorial  integrity of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (now Serbia), Kosovo and Metohija is an integral part of the Republic of Serbia, under the administration of the UN. Since Kosovo cannot be considered State, it does not fulfill the basic requirement for membership set out by the UNESCO Constitution.
• Because unilateral attempts such as this one seriously harm and disrupt the dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina under the auspices of the European Union in which mutually acceptable solutions for many complex issues have been devised so far. The issue of the Serbian cultural heritage and the property of the Serbia Orthodox Church has not yet been discussed within the dialogue where it belongs.
• Because this is an unacceptable politicization of UNESCO which should not overtake the competences of the UN Security Council as the highest authority for the preservation of the international peace and security. UNESCO should not serve as an instrument for the affirmation of an illegal and' unilaterally declared independence of a part of the territory of one UN member state. The primary goal of UNESCO is to promote universal values of humanity through education, science and culture not to make political decisions with regard to the statehood.
• Because this would be a dangerous precedent, harmful for many states. This would open the door for other entities to follow the same path thus threatening territorial integrity and sovereignty of other member states.
• Because this issue is polarizing the membership of UNESCO.
• Because, besides not being a state, Pristina does not have moral credibility for membership. Anyone aspiring to UNESCO membership must prove not only in words but as well in deeds its commitment to the goals of the UNESCO Constitution, which certainly is incompatible with deliberate, systematic, vandal demolition of Serbian cultural and historic monuments with the aim to remove the traces of centuries-long existence of Serbs in this area as well as the impunity of the perpetrators of such barbaric acts unworthy of the 21st century. These acts are comparable only to the acts of destruction of cultural heritage by terrorist groups in the Middle East and elsewhere that the world is witnessing and UNESCO is strongly condemning.
• Because four Serbian orthodox monasteries are inscribed on the UNESCO List of World Heritage in danger although the armed conflict in Kosovo is over for many years now. In danger from whom?
• Because the inclusion of this item in the provisional agenda of the 197th  session of the UNESCO
Executive board raises serious concerns about the compliance with procedure and the respect of the established UNESCO rules. Just to mention that that even publishing of the document on the unacceptability of Kosovo's application for UNESCO membership from the standpoint of the international law, prepared by Serbian Delegation to UNESCO, as an official document, as we requested,  was refused. And the only intention was the voice of Serbia also to be heard.
•   Because we all would have to live with the negative consequences of such an irresponsible decision from the lesioning of the international law up to the fate of the Serbian cultural heritage in the province of Kosovo and Metohija which not only belongs to the Serbian people but also represents a part of the historical and civilizational heritage of modern Europe and the world.


Print version
News
Book of condolence
Statement by Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Serbia Nikola Selaković at the meeting of the UN Security Council on the report on the work of UNMIK
Selaković: Serbia is actively involved in combating terrorism, radicalism and extremism
Belgrade to get Centre for Fourth Industrial Revolution
Meeting with the Serbian member of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina
Serbia continues to work on strengthening ties with Republika Srpska
Selakovic and Gouillon delivered aid to 35 Serbian households in Bosanski Petrovac
Selakovic: Serbia supports the development and progress of the Republic of Srpska
UNESCO’s role extremely important for preservation of Serbian heritage in Kosovo and Metohija
Joint statement of the participants in today's meeting of the Open Balkans initiative: "The future of enlargement – a view from the region"
Address of the President of the Republic of Serbia at the United Nations climate change conference COP26 held in Glasgow
Contracts for 14 apartments in Belgrade for refugees from B&H and Croatia awarded
Contracts for 21 apartments in Ub were distributed to refugee families from B&H and Croatia
Meeting of the President of Serbia with the Serbian member of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina
Selaković in UNSC: Dialogue and the implementation of the agreements reached are the only right way to resolve all open issues
President Vučić visits the Republic of Slovenia
Selaković in New York with 28 foreign ministers on economic successes of Serbia and K&M situation
Telephone conversation of President Vučić and General Secretary of NATO
Pristina seriously jeopardised regional stability
Prime Minister Brnabic at Global COVID-19 summit organised by White House
Gouillon announced a campaign to protect the property rights of Serbs in the FB&H
Marking the Remembrance Day of all Serbs who died and were expelled in the armed operation "Storm"
Meeting with the Serbian member of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina and representatives of the Republic of Srpska
75 apartments in Nis handed over to refugee families from Croatia and B&H
Selaković spoke with Željka Cvijanović
President Vučić: We have decided – our goal is the EU, but China is an important partner
Serbia has achieved great success in the field of digitalization
Selaković invited representatives of members of the NAM to gather in Belgrade in October
Serbian children from the region visit the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Serbia
Serbia strongly supports Berlin Process
Continuation of European integration along cooperation with countries of region
Selakovic: Cooperation and good-neighbourly relations are in the general interest of the entire region
Selakovic: Serbia attaches great importance to the Berlin Process and regional cooperation
Address by the President of the Republic of Serbia at the session of the United Nations Security Council
Minister Selaković presented the new e-Consulate service
Foundation stone for "Buk-Bijela" new beginning in relations between Serbia, Republika Srpska
Serbia sets aside considerable funds for projects in Republika Srpska
Selakovic: Serbia demonstrated that solidarity does not solely have to be the privilege of the rich
President Vučić met via video link with representatives of the IMF delegation
Meeting with the World Health Organization Regional Director for Europe
WHO describes immunisation process in Serbia as impressive
Selakovic: Pristina persists in its campaign of hatred against the Serbian people
Selakovic: Political extremism of Albanians in Kosovo and Metohija is becoming stronger
Marking the Day of Remembrance of the victims of the NATO aggression
Selakovic: Serbia is helping the fiscal consolidation of Drvar municipality
Minister Selakovic and BiH Presidency Members discuss the intensification of bilateral cooperation
Selakovic: Serbian Orthodox Church is a pillar of survival of the Serbian people
Selakovic: Very important good-neighborly relations between Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina
Selakovic: Special relations fostered between Serbia and Srpska
Selakovic, Bregu: Economic cooperation is the key to the development of the region
Commemorating Remembrance Day of 17 March 2004 - Pogrom in Kosovo and Metohija
Selakovic and Tegeltija discuss bilateral cooperation between Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina
La République de Serbie au Mois de la Francophonie
Selakovic: Fight against all forms of crime is a priority of the Serbian Government
President Vucic handed over the donation of vaccines to the Chairman and Members of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina
Selakovic: Serbia has sincere love for Srpska and will continue to help it
Metropolitan Porfirije of Zagreb and Ljubljana elected as the new Patriarch of Serbia
Minister Selakovic: Serbia attaches special attention to relations with Bosnia and Herzegovina
President Vucic: Serbia is ready for dialogue on Kosovo and Metohija, but will refuse being humiliated
Minister Selakovic: We do not respond to provocations, we want peace in the region
Minister Selaković: Serbia is committed to the values of the Adriatic and Ionian Initiative
Minister Selakovic speaks for Politika: The year of rejuvenation of Serbian diplomacy
President Vucic: Serbia is the first in Europe in terms of growth
Selakovic: It is Serbia's duty to take care of Srpska
Minister Selakovic: Serbia and the Republic of Srpska will be inextricably linked, peace is the most important
Congratulatory message on the occasion of the Day of the Republic of Srpska
Every Serb in the diaspora is potentially a lobbyist
Minister Selakovic sent a telegram of condolences following the tragedy in Posusje
Minister Selakovic: New ambassadors will be appointed this year, but the goals remain the same
President Vucic: Serbia to remain on the course of a winning policy of stability
Serbian Prime Minister the first PM in Europe to receive a Covid-19 vaccine
Minister Selakovic: Someone in the region has an issue with economically strong Serbia
Meeting with the Chairman of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina
STATEMENT BY THE MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS
President meets the ambassadors of the EU member states accredited to Serbia and the head of the European Union Delegation
Guide through the measures to support the development of innovative economy / Serbia-Emerging tech development hub
ENTERING BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA BY CITIZENS OF REPUBLIC OF SERBIA
IMPORTANT NOTICE
DIGITAL CONTENTS - SERBIAN CULTURAL INSTITUTIONS 2O2O
REPUBLIC OF SERBIA CANDIDATE FOR THE UNESCO EXECUTIVE BOARD, 2019-2023
The Decision on termination of the Decision on visa exemption for the citizens of the Islamic Republic of Iran, holding ordinary passports
PRESS RELEASE OF THE SPEAKER OF THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY OF THE REPUBLIC OF SERBIA MAJA GOJKOVIĆ
Why Kosovo is ineligible for membership in UNESCO
The exemption of visa requirements for holders of foreign passports with the valid Schengen visa, visa of the Great Britain, as well as the visas of other countries members of European Union, or with the valid visa of USA
Statement of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs regarding yesterday's incidents at the Serbia - Albania football match
Help in taking care of population and recovery of consequences of floods in the Republic of Serbia
News - Archive