October 8, 2008
SERBIANNA
UN General Assembly has adopted the resolution supporting the official proposal of Serbia to ask for an opinion of the International Court of Justice in The Hague regarding the illegality of the unilaterally proclaimed independence by Kosovo separatists.
77 UN member states supported Serbia's proposal, 6 were against and 74 refrained from voting.
Belgrade has characterized the adoption of the initiative as great success for the Serbian diplomacy because it has frozen any further recognition of the rogue Kosovo separatists.
Serbian President Boris Tadic said that the UN was the sole body that was capable of preserving the stability of international relations in our present world, and that this was why it is was so important that the resolution of Kosovo status be put back into the framework of that world organization and international law.
Until the ICJ gives its opinion no country, furthermore, will be able to recognize the independence of the southern Serbian province.
Before the vote, Serbian Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremic called upon all UN member states to support Belgrade's initiative stressing that this would help preserve stability in the region and the entire world.
Jeremic said that the opinion of the International Court of Justice was necessary as otherwise what the Kosovo separatists proclaimed would serve as a precedent for all parts of the world with separatist ambitions.
Serbian proposal was supported by Spain, Greece, Slovakia, Romania and Cyprus from Europe.
The Spanish representative said that his government considered the respect of international law was a principle which must be applied to all fields of international relations. He added that it at the same time highlights the importance of the functioning of the UN institutions.
The Romanian Ambassador stressed that the opinion of the ICJ was very important for the future of international relations, especially when at issue was the respect of sovereignty and territorial integrity.
The representative of Cyprus said that support to Serbia's initiative represented a matter of principle, as the self-proclaimed independence of Kosovo must demand a legal explanation which can be offered only by the ICJ.
Serbian proposal was supported by many big and influential countries in other regions of the world.
The Indonesian representative said that his country remained firmly committed to dialogue in resolving the problem of the status of Kosovo. He stressed that it was extremely important to preserve the integrity of international law and the UN as an institution.
The ambassador of the Republic of South Africa pointed out that it was important to ask for an opinion of the ICJ as the main legislative body of the UN. It is true that 48 countries have recognized Kosovo, but we must keep in mind that 144 countries have not done so, the South African representative said.
Egyptian Ambassador said that his country supported the respect of the UN Charter and the basic principles of international law. The government in Cairo firmly believes in the importance and the legal value of the verdicts and the opinion of the ICJ, as this institution makes independent and objective decisions, said the Egyptian Ambassador.
The Iranian representative said that his country supported the preservation of Serbia's integrity just as the Iranian government is committed to the principle of peaceful resolving of conflicts and the rule of international law.
The ambassador of Mexico said that the Serbian proposal was based on the right of every UN member state to ask for an opinion of the ICJ on all matters.
The representative of France, which is chairing the EU, announced that his country would refrain from voting as it respects the authority of the ICJ. He however added that France and most EU countries believe that Kosovo's independence represents a unique case which does not bring into question the principle of sovereignty and territorial integrity.
The US representative pointed out that Washington offers full support to the ICJ, but believes that the recognition of independence of Kosovo was in accordance with international law and thus the opinion of the ICJ is not useful.
The UK ambassador expressed surprise with the large number of countries that supported the Serbian proposal, but assessed that the opinion of the ICJ could not influence the political fate of Kosovo.
Upon receiving the text of the resolution, the ICJ will decide about the dynamics of considering the request of the UN General Assembly, i.e. whether this would be considered urgently or according to regular procedure. As agencies report, the decision could be awaited for several years, and its decisions are not binding for EU member states.
Kosovo separatist so-called foreign minister Skender Hiseni has said it will be difficult to block Serbia's initiative at the UN, and announced the setting up of a special group of ministers that would defend Kosovo separatist interests before the International Court of Justice in case that Belgrade's request was to be adopted.
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What Serbs hope to get out of it? Get Kosovo back? Or initiate a new Genocide?
Let's see...the verdict if it takes place. (Wonder: what is the first thing Serbs would do in Kosovo if they won this Court?) Build new Monasteries? Or expel all Kosovars to Albania?
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oh, I forgot...why didn't Serbs try to get Croatia, Slovenia and Bosnia back in the first place?
Why would we want Slovenia? As for Croatia and Bosnia we don't want anything but what is ours, look back and trace back old boundries not what the krauts and americans gave them. As for Kosovo it was always ours, you rats know you came here illegally when hoxa let you out of jail and expelled you from your own country. This bullsh*t of a greater Serbia is your doing not ours! Serbia was fine as Jugoslavija, all the seperatist changed all that. The fun begins. If this fails tadic will be thrown out and then a GREAT radical will come in and finish what should have been finished back in the 90's!
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