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President reacts to ICJ decision

22 July 2010 | Source: Beta

BELGRADE -- President Boris Tadić says the ICJ Kosovo case ruling was "difficult for Serbia", but that the country would continue to defend its territorial integrity. 

This, the president stressed, will be done exclusively using political means. 

"It is clear that the court was not ruling on the right to secession, but that it decided to debate only the technical content of the declaration of independence. The court avoided to rule on the essential issue and decided to let the top UN organ debate that, and all the political implications," the president said in his reaction. 

Tadić added that in the coming days, "all state organs would analyze the ICJ decision", while his emissaries would be dispatched over the weekend to 55 countries state worldwide, where they will deliver his personal message. 

"Serbia will never recognize the unilaterally declared independence of Kosovo, since we believe that unilateral and ethnically motivated secession is not in line with UN principles," said he. 

In 2008, Serbia asked the UN General Assembly to request an advisory opinion from the ICJ on the legality under international law of the Kosovo Albanian independence declaration, made early the same year. 

The top UN court announced today that since there was "no active provision that limits independence declarations, Kosovo's declaration is not in breach of international law", UNSCR 1244, or the international legal order there. 

The tribunal said that it did not rule on whether such declarations in fact result in the statehood of territories attempting to secede. 

Serbia rejects the UDI, and has support for this from two permanent UN Security Council members, and five of the 27 EU countries. 

Tadic comments ICJ decision

20:14 BELGRADE, July 22 (Tanjug) -  Serbian President Boris Tadic stated Thursday that the International Court of Justice (ICJ) decision on the legality of Kosovo's declaration of independence fell heavily on Serbia, but added that it is clear the ICJ did not take a stand regarding the issue of Kosovo's right to secede.

The ICJ transferred the Kosovo issue to the UN General Assembly that way, said Tadic, underscoring that Serbia would continue to fight for Kosovo using legal and peaceful means.

"Defending Serbia's interest in Kosovo is a national task, involving all citizens and government institutions, as well as all political parties," Tadic told reporters, adding that it must not be used as a cheap political tool.

Serbia has a clear plan of diplomatic activity, according to Tadic, who announced that the country will send envoys to 55 countries during the weekend. They will carry Tadic's message to those countries' presidents and prime ministers.

He noted that the ICJ decision would have "dangerous implications for separatist movements all over the world" if it was indeed what Pristina claimed it was.

Commenting on the ICJ decision, Tadic said that the court gave an opinion only on the "technical content of the independence declaration," while avoiding to take a stand on the crucial issue, which was secession.

"The declaration text in itself does not violate international law, because it has nothing to do with it. The court let the UN General Assembly draw a political conclusion, which opens an opportunity for Serbia to fight for its view at the assembly's autumn session," said Tadic.

According to him, the government would invest maximum effort for the UN to adopt Serbia's resolution proposal.

"Serbia will never recognize Kosovo's independence, and we have a clear plan of diplomatic activity for the coming days," said the president.

There will be a lot of pressure on many countries to recognize Kosovo before the UN General Assembly convenes, but Serbia is going to do everything to keep the number of those recognitions as few as possible, Tadic stated.

It is crucial to preserve peace and stability in Kosovo right now, said Tadic, who called on the citizens not to respond to any potential provocations.

Serbia looks to UN GA after ICJ ruling

22 July 2010 | Source: B92, FoNet, Tanjug

THE HAGUE -- Serbia's FM Vuk Jeremić stated today in The Hague that Serbia will never recognize the Kosovo Albanian unilateral independence declaration.

His comments came after the International Court of Justice (ICJ), asked to give its advisory opinion on the legality of the proclamation under international law, found that since there was "no active provision that limits independence declarations, Kosovo's declaration is not in breach of international law". 

Serbia will continue with a peaceful diplomatic fight for Kosovo, Jeremić said, noting that it would be difficult. The next step, he said, is the debate at the UN General Assembly this fall. 

The foreign minister said that it was of paramount importance to preserve peace and stability in the entire territory of the province, and called on citizens there not to respond to provocation. 

Kosovo's ethnic Albanians made the declaration in February 2008, but Belgrade rejects it as an illegal act of secession. 

The ICJ today decided to declare itself only in the technical sense when it comes to the Kosovo Albanian proclamation, according to Jeremić, "and in effect avoided making a stance on the essential issue of whether or not they had the right to attempt a secession from Serbia". 

The court's opinion, the minister added, will soon be sent back to the UN General Assembly, which will reach political conclusions related to this issue. 

"The next step is the debate at the UN General Assembly in September in New York, and I am convinced that the right course of Serbia's policy will be confirmed," said he. 

Jeremić also sent out his message that this policy would not change. 

"This is a peaceful policy that is based on the principles of international law, and today in the courtroom, we did not hear that anyone had a right to secede. Such a debate is political, and it is clearly yet to take place at the UN General Assembly," Serbia's chief of diplomacy concluded.