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International Court declared Kosovo's independence ‘legal’
Friday,
July 23, 2010 10:21:15 AM,
Agencies |
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Kosovars wave US, Kosovo
and British flags as they celebrate the World Court ruling in Pristina
on Thursday.
(Photo:
Reuters) |
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Hague
(Netherlands): Kosovo won a major victory on the world
stage Thursday as the United Nations' highest court said its 2008
declaration of independence from Serbia was legal.
The nonbinding opinion by the
International Court of Justice sets the stage for Kosovo to renew
its appeals for further international recognition.
The tiny Balkan country has been
recognized by 69 countries, including the United States and most
European Union nations. It needs 100 for full statehood.
“Kosovo's historic victory should not be felt as loss in Belgrade,”
Kosovo Prime Minister Hashim Thaci said, calling the ruling “the
best possible answer for the entire world.”
Serbia quickly denounced the ruling and vowed it would never
recognize Kosovo as separate.
The verdict — passed in a 10-4 vote by court judges and read by
court President Hisashi Owada — says international law contains “no
... prohibition of declarations of independence” and therefore
Kosovo's declaration “did not violate general international law.”
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon will forward the advisory opinion
to the General Assembly “which had requested the court's advice and
which will determine how to proceed on this matter,” UN spokesman
Martin Nesirky said.
“The secretary-general strongly encourages the parties to engage in
a constructive dialogue,” Nesirky told reporters at UN headquarters
in New York. “The secretary-general urges all sides to avoid any
steps that could be seen as provocative and derail the dialogue.”
Serbian President Boris Tadic said that Serbia will propose to the
assembly in September a resolution on Kosovo that will represent a
“compromise” between Serbs and Kosovo Albanians. “The only
sustainable solution is the one accepted by all sides,” Tadic said.
Russia, a close ally of Serbia, said its position against Kosovo's
declaration of independence remains unchanged. “We believe the
resolution of the problem of Kosovo is possible only through
negotiations between the interested parties, on the basis of the
provisions of Resolution 1244 of the UN Security Council," the
Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
This resolution "remains the basis of judicial and international
regulation recognized by all," it said.
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton called on all nations
including Serbia to recognize Kosovo "We call on all states to move
beyond the issue of Kosovo's status and engage constructively in
support of peace and stability in the Balkans, and we call on those
states that have not yet done so to recognize Kosovo," she said.
Earlier, State Department spokesman P.J. Crowley said: “Now it is
time for Europe to unite behind a common future.”
EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton said other European Union
is ready to help Serbia and Kosovo hold a dialogue to strengthen
their chances of joining the bloc.
She said the European Union welcomed the World Court's ruling. "The
EU is ... ready to facilitate a process of dialogue between Pristina
and Belgrade. This dialogue would be to promote cooperation, achieve
progress on the path to Europe and improve the lives of the people,"
Ashton said in a statement.
Kosovo sparked sharp debate worldwide when it seceded from Serbia in
2008, following a bloody 1998-99 war with Serbia and nearly a decade
of international administration.
Serbia and Russia have led opposing countries in condemning Kosovo's
statehood, with Serbs arguing it has been the cradle of their
civilization and national identity since 1389, when a Christian army
led by Serbian Prince Lazar lost an epic battle to invading Ottoman
forces.
Serbia's ultranationalist Radical Party said the court “gravely
violated” international law, and called on the government to demand
an urgent session of the UN Security Council to end the EU
peacekeeping mission in Kosovo.
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