Russian FM weighs in on Pristina's attempt to join UNESCO

The attempt to allow Kosovo to join leads to the politicization of UNESCO's activities, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Friday.
Source: Tanjug Friday, November 6, 2015 | 14:20

(Beta/AP, file)

He made the statement after meeting with UNESCO Director-General Irina Bokova.
"With all the complexities of international life it is important to avoid the politicization of the UNESCO activities, that's what we see now in connection with attempts to grant the organization’s membership to Kosovo in violation of Resolution 1244 of the UN Security Council," Lavrov said, according to TASS.

He stressed the need "to offer support in every way in the spirit of compromise and consensus-based solutions."

According to Lavrov, Bokova "has the talent of the kind and is actively promoting constructive solutions."

Resolution 1244 was adopted on June 10, 1999, envisaging a series of measures to solve the situation in Kosovo by allowing it "essential autonomy and self-government," while at the same time respecting "the sovereignty and territorial integrity of (FR) Yugoslavia," the Russian news agency said.

Earlier in the day Serbia's Ambassador to UNESCO said that Pristina's bid will be on the agenda on Monday.