Kosovo does not (quite) make the cut for UNESCO membership

As reported on this blog last month, Kosovo has been assiduously pursuing UNESCO membership in recent months in the face of stiff Serbian resistance. However, its efforts were not enough to garner sufficient support at the Agency's general assembly in Paris this week, and its bid fell just 3 votes shy of the 95 needed for recognition.

Serbia's opposition focussed on Kosovo's alleged failure to protect Serbian cultural and religious sites, including four UNESCO world heritage sites.

With the New York Times reporting "quiet sadness in the streets of Pristina", observers expect that Kosovo will make another attempt at membership at UNESCO's next general assembly.