Serbia to Stay the Course about Kosovo's Status Despite ICJ Ruling

Serbian Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremic addresses the media during a press conference in The Hague, The Netherlands, on 22 July 2010. Photo by EPA/BGNES

Serbia's approach to the question about the status of Kosovo will not change after the ruling of the ICJ in favor of the latter's independence, Serbian Foreign Minsiter Vuk Jeremic has stated.

The Serbian government has asked for a special Parliament sitting in the wake of the advisory ruling of the UN court that Kosovo's declaration of independence was not contrary to international law.

The Serbian Parliament is going to discuss a special resolution dedicated to the ruling of the International Court of Justice, which will be in defense of Serbia's territorial integrity, announced Serbia's International Radio.

Serbia considers Kosovo, which declared independence in February 2008, part of its territory. It referred the question about the legality of Kosovo's declaration of independence to the UN General Assembly, which in turn asked the ICJ for an advisory opinion.

The Court ruled with 10-4 votes that there were no provisions in international law that would deem the declaration of independence illegal fueling fears this will lead to a wave of separatism around the world.

In an interview for the Vecerne Novosti newspaper, Serbian Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremic stated that the ruling of the ICJ has made considerably harder to achieve Serbia's goals of reaching a “just” solution of the problem about the status of Kosovo but that the country is not going to change its approach.

In his words, the UN court has decided to avoid answering the major question – if the Kosovo Albanians had the right to secede from Serbia unilaterally – and has focused on the technical contents of their declaration of independence.

Jeremic said Serbia will insist that the UN General Assembly spur new talks about Kosovo's status.

“We are aiming at new negotiations. We don't wish to freeze the conflict in Kosovo, or to worse in any way the already complex situation in the region,” the Serbian Foreign Minister explained.

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