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The Government of the Republic of Serbia

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Tadic asks UN members to support Serbia’s initiative

Belgrade, 11 September 2008

Serbian President Boris Tadic asked UN members to support the resolution seeking an advisory opinion from the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on the legality of the unilateral declaration of independence by Kosovo-Metohija.

Author: Tanjug

In a letter to all UN member states, Tadic said that the ICJ’s opinion would considerably alleviate tensions related to the unilateral declaration of independence by Kosovo-Metohija, prevent a negative development of events in the region and relieve strains to make an agreement among all concerned parties. He said that Serbia will propose the adoption of a resolution draft at the forthcoming 63rd session of the UN General Assembly.

Serbia asks the UN’s supreme judicial body – the ICJ – for an advisory opinion to the question: “Is the unilateral declaration of independence by provisional institutions of self-government in Kosovo in accordance with international law?” the President said in his letter.

On behalf of the Republic of Serbia, I want to ask for your country’s support for putting this item on the agenda of the forthcoming 63rd session of the UN General Assembly.

I ask for your support when voting on the resolution proposal in the General Assembly, Tadic said.

Tadic stressed that the opinion by the ICJ should clarify whether the unilateral declaration of independence by Kosovo-Metohija is the most adequate route of action in this particular case.

According to him, ICJ’s impartial advisory opinion is considered the most relevant interpretation of principles of international legal order.

The Serbian President drew UN member countries’ attention to the fact that the ICJ’s advisory undisputable and impartial opinion will considerably help to calm down the tensions resulting from the unilateral declaration of Kosovo’s independence.

Thus we could avoid an unfavourable development in the region and beyond, as well as facilitate efforts to reach agreement between all parties involved, stressed Tadic and pointed out that by addressing the ICJ, the General Assembly will help make the Kosovo issue a symbol of renewed decisiveness that the international community should respect the rule of law.

Serbia’s stance is that the province’s unilateral declaration of independence is a breach of the UN Charter and other key documents of the international legal system, as well as that it is in contravention of Resolution 1244, based on which all member countries are under obligation to respect my country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, reiterated the President.

He stressed that Serbia still excludes the use of force and the introduction of economic sanctions in line with its commitment to peaceful resolution of Kosovo-Metohija’s future status.

We believe that the most principled, most reasonable way to overcome potentially destabilising and perilous consequences of Kosovo’s unilaterally declared independence is to transfer the issue to the legal terrain, concluded Tadic in his letter to UN member countries.