Post by Novi Pazar on Aug 26, 2008 20:49:33 GMT -5
Diplomats: Serbia’s ICJ move is a clever move
Serbia's bid to have the International Court of Justice say whether Kosovo's independence is legal is a clever move that buys time for Belgrade as its new government seeks to join the European Union, diplomats told Reuters
(KosovoCompromise Staff) Tuesday, August 26, 2008
U.N. diplomats said Belgrade's move was clearly tied to its quest to join the EU.
"The Serbs want to park the issue of Kosovo for two to three years," one said, referring to the likely time it would take for the ICJ to issue an opinion.
But he described the ICJ idea as a "win-win situation" for Serbia, since whatever the court said, Belgrade could claim international cover. "They don't mind what they get back (from the court)," the diplomat said.
U.N. members, however, may not like the idea so much, diplomats said. The more than 40 countries that have recognized Kosovo fear its integration into international bodies could be put on hold while the ICJ deliberates.
States that have held back, by contrast, fear the precedent of any decision favoring independence. Disgruntled minorities around the world from Spain to Indonesia would like to declare independence, taking part of the national territory with them.
Many countries may therefore abstain in a General Assembly vote on referring Kosovo to the ICJ, diplomats and U.N. officials said. Nevertheless, under assembly rules, a simple majority is decisive, no matter how few countries take part.
The best known previous ICJ advisory opinion came in 2004, when it said a barrier Israel was building in the occupied West Bank to defend against Palestinian guerrilla attacks violated international law. Israel ignored the opinion.
Serbia's bid to have the International Court of Justice say whether Kosovo's independence is legal is a clever move that buys time for Belgrade as its new government seeks to join the European Union, diplomats told Reuters
(KosovoCompromise Staff) Tuesday, August 26, 2008
U.N. diplomats said Belgrade's move was clearly tied to its quest to join the EU.
"The Serbs want to park the issue of Kosovo for two to three years," one said, referring to the likely time it would take for the ICJ to issue an opinion.
But he described the ICJ idea as a "win-win situation" for Serbia, since whatever the court said, Belgrade could claim international cover. "They don't mind what they get back (from the court)," the diplomat said.
U.N. members, however, may not like the idea so much, diplomats said. The more than 40 countries that have recognized Kosovo fear its integration into international bodies could be put on hold while the ICJ deliberates.
States that have held back, by contrast, fear the precedent of any decision favoring independence. Disgruntled minorities around the world from Spain to Indonesia would like to declare independence, taking part of the national territory with them.
Many countries may therefore abstain in a General Assembly vote on referring Kosovo to the ICJ, diplomats and U.N. officials said. Nevertheless, under assembly rules, a simple majority is decisive, no matter how few countries take part.
The best known previous ICJ advisory opinion came in 2004, when it said a barrier Israel was building in the occupied West Bank to defend against Palestinian guerrilla attacks violated international law. Israel ignored the opinion.