Why did Serbia abstain from voting for the new world map?

Serbia abstained from a United Nations vote on a new world map because the proposed Equal Earth projection shows Kosovo as an independent state, the country's Foreign Ministry told BBC Serbian.

The General Assembly adopted the “Correct the Map” resolution by 164 votes to one. The United States voted against it, while Serbia was one of six countries that abstained.

The resolution is not legally binding. Sponsored by Togo and supported by all African Union members, it calls for changes to maps used by institutions around the world. Its stated aim is to represent the actual size of countries and continents more accurately.

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corrects a historical injustice

Serbia's Foreign Ministry said the proposal “corrects a historical injustice” in the geographic shape and scale of parts of the world, but added that the Equal Earth projection presents Kosovo as a separate state. That, it said, conflicts with Serbia's constitutional order and national interests and could not be supported even indirectly.

The ministry also said support for the resolution could be misused or interpreted as support for Kosovo's unilateral declaration of independence. It stressed that Serbia traditionally supports equal representation for Africa and other continents, and noted that Togo withdrew its recognition of Kosovo in 2019. Serbia said it coordinated its abstention directly with its “friends in Togo,” who understand its position.

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friends in Togo