Djuric with Egypt’s candidate for UNESCO Director-General: Consideration of Kosovo's membership is unacceptable to Serbia

Serbian Foreign Minister Marko Djuric met with Egypt’s candidate for the position of Director-General of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), Khaled El-Anany, whose candidacy Serbia has officially supported.

Djuric expressed deep concern over the continued attacks on Serbian cultural and religious heritage in Kosovo, particularly on monuments listed as World Heritage in Danger.

He emphasized that the protection of these sites is a matter of the highest priority for Serbia and appealed for respect for universal values and the historical significance of this heritage, according to a statement from the Serbian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The Serbian foreign minister specifically underscored that any consideration of Kosovo’s request for UNESCO membership would be absolutely unacceptable to Serbia, as it would deepen divisions among member states, politicize cultural heritage, and seriously undermine the credibility of the organization itself.

Djuric also stated that Serbia places great importance on the role and mandate of the UNESCO Director-General, as well as on the organization itself, which represents one of the key pillars of the multilateral system.

Building on the traditionally friendly and comprehensive relations between Serbia and Egypt, as well as their successful cooperation within international organizations, the minister emphasized that Serbia officially supports El-Anany’s candidacy for this important position.

Djuric stressed that Serbia is a sincere and dedicated partner in preserving the core values on which UNESCO is founded, emphasizing that the organization must remain a mechanism for solidarity, dialogue, and joint efforts by member states to build a fairer and more sustainable world.