UN General Assembly Plenary Session on Serbian Resolution
The United Nations General Assembly on October 8, 2008, by a recorded vote of 77 in favour to 6 against (Albania, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Nauru, Palau and United States) adopted a resolution drafted by Serbia, to seek an advisory opinion from the International Court of Justice on whether the unilaterally declared independence of Serbian Kosovo and Metohija province is in line with the international law.
In initiating the resolution, Serbia had responded to Kosovo’s unilateral declaration of independence on 17 February with “maximal restraint”, said Serbian Minister for Foreign Affairs Vuk Jeremic, as he introduced the text. The resolution was asking the 192-member Assembly to convey its request to the Court–the United Nations’ highest judicial body–for an advisory opinion, in line with its powers under the Organization’s Charter.
The resolution received wide support from a geographic mix of countries, including Europe, Africa, Asia, South America and the Caribbean and the Middle East, with delegates backing the measure out of respect for international law, the United Nations Charter, States’ right to request an advisory opinion-–particularly on sovereignty matters-–and the Court’s position as the appropriate judicial body for ruling on such highly complex matters. Algeria’s representative also underscored that the draft contained no political or controversial elements.
Speaking in explanation of vote before the vote were the representatives of Romania, Slovakia, Panama, Egypt, Spain, Greece, France, Cyprus, Indonesia, Cuba, South Africa, Comoros, Costa Rica, Iran, and Algeria.
Speaking in explanation of vote after the vote were the representatives of Canada, Peru, Germany, Argentina, Finland, Australia, Colombia, Denmark, Norway, Switzerland, El Salvador, Singapore, and Iceland.
In a point of order, the representative of Liberia expressed a problem with the use of her voting mechanism. An official of the Secretariat informed the Assembly that Liberia could not vote.
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