PARIS (AP) β Members of the U.N. cultural agency have narrowly rejected Kosovo’s bid for membership, in a victory for Serbia and Russia and a blow to Kosovo’s mission for global recognition as a state.
Those voting overall favored Kosovo’s membership, with 92 “yes” votes and 50 “no” votes and a few dozen abstentions. According to UNESCO rules however, the bid needed support of two-thirds of those voting, or 94 “yes” votes.
Kosovo has been recognized by 111 countries since it declared independence from Serbia in 2008. Veto-wielding Russia has blocked Kosovo from becoming a full U.N. member.
Kosovo had promised that if it became a UNESCO member, it would protect the cultural heritage of Serbs, despite tensions after a 1998-99 war.
Serbia had warned that allowing Kosovo into UNESCO would fuel tensions and hurt an EU-brokered dialogue.
