Kosovo independence not illegal says UN court

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-10730573

Kosovo’s declaration of independence from Serbia in 2008 did not break international law, top UN judges have ruled in a non-binding decision.

The International Court of Justice rejected Serbian claims that the move had violated its territorial integrity.

Kosovo officials said all doubt about its status had now been removed, but Serbia’s president insisted Belgrade would never recognise the secession.

The US and many EU countries support independence; Russia is opposed.

http://english.aljazeera.net/news/europe/2010/07/201072213840362357.html

The International Court of Justice has said that Kosovo’s declaration of independence did not violate international law, in a case that could have significant implications for separatist movements around the world.

Hisashi Owada, the presiding judge of the UN’s highest court in the Hague, the Netherlands, read out the statement, which is not legally binding, on Thursday afternoon.

The decision, which comes two years after the United Nations General Assembly requested the opinion, is likely to lead to more countries recognising Kosovo’s independence.

Kosovo’s foreign minister said he expected Serbia to deal with the former province as a sovereign state, following the ruling.

“I expect Serbia to turn and come to us, to talk with us on so many issues of mutual interest, of mutual importance,” Skender Hyseni told the Reuters news agency.

“But such talks can only take place as talks between sovereign states,” he said.

Serbia’s President Boris Tadic was quick to respond, saying that the court ruling will not change the position of Serbia regarding Kosovo.

His comments were echoed by Serbia’s foreign minister Vuk Jeremic. “Serbia will never, under any circumstances, recognise the unilateral declaration of independence of the so-called Republic of Kosovo,” Jeremic told reporters outside the International Court of Justice.

Jeremic also appealed for calm, particular among the minority ethnic Serb community who are concentrated in the north of Kosovo, in the wake of the verdict.

“Difficult days are ahead of us … It is of crucial importance to keep the peace and to stabilise the entire territory of the province (Kosovo),” he added. “It is crucial that our citizens do not react to provocations.”

Tadic had warned earlier that a ruling in favour of statehood would set a dangerous precedent.

“If the International Court of Justice sets a new principle, it would trigger a process that would create several new countries and destabilise numerous regions in the world,” he said before the ruling.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Court_of_Justice

The International Court of Justice (French: Cour internationale de justice; commonly referred to as the World Court or ICJ) is the primary judicial organ of the United Nations. It is based in the Peace Palace in The Hague, Netherlands. Its main functions are to settle legal disputes submitted to it by states and to give advisory opinions on legal questions submitted to it by duly authorized international organs, agencies, and the UN General Assembly. The ICJ should not be confused with the International Criminal Court, which potentially also has “global” jurisdiction.

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this is really big news..we now have the situation where the ICJ can determine the borders of your country officially..i am not siding with serbia at all and i think kosovo deserves its independence..this is an example of what is coming..as they rightly point out..new states will pop up everywhere now and if the ICJ says its cool..then you just lost part of your country..huge..

“If the International Court of Justice sets a new principle, it would trigger a process that would create several new countries and destabilise numerous regions in the world,” he said before the ruling.”

401

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~ by seeker401 on July 24, 2010.