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A:
ICJ begins debate on legality of Kosovo-Metohija’s unilateral independence
The Hague,
1 December 2009
The international Court of Justice (ICJ) today began the debate on the issue of the legality of Kosovo-Metohija’s unilaterally declared independence, which the UN General Assembly had sent to the court at Serbia’s initiative.
Author:
Fonet
At the beginning of the debate, taking place at the Hague’s Peace Palace, ICJ chairman Hisashi Owada notified the participants in the process that written reports are available to the public on the court’s web site as of today and summarised the process so far.
Head of the Serbian delegation and Serbian Ambassador to Paris Dusan Batakovic will now begin a three-hour explanation of their arguments and present Serbia’s stance that Kosovo-Metohija’s declaration of independence violates the very foundations of the international legal order.
Deputy head of the Serbian delegation Sasa Obradovic will also address the judges, as well as international law experts Malcolm Shaw from the UK, Marcel Cohen from Switzerland and Andreas Zimmermann from Germany.
Minister of Foreign Affairs Vuk Jeremic is also attending the beginning of the debate.
In the afternoon part of today’s session the "authors of Kosovo-Metohija’s declaration of independence“, led by Skender Hiseni and British lawyer Michael Wood, will state their arguments. Over the next ten days, until December 11, 28 UN members will also elaborate their stances.
In the upcoming days China, Russia, Spain, Romania, Argentina, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bolivia, Brazil, Burundi, Cyprus, Venezuela and Vietnam will speak on behalf of Serbia and in defence of international law.
The USA, France, the UK, Germany, Albania, the Netherlands, Norway, Croatia, Austria, Bulgaria, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Denmark, Finland and Jordan will speak on behalf of the self-proclaimed Kosovo state.
Having heard the oral arguments, the ICJ will agree upon its advisory opinion, which will not be obligatory for the states.
Head of the Serbian delegation and Serbian Ambassador to Paris Dusan Batakovic will now begin a three-hour explanation of their arguments and present Serbia’s stance that Kosovo-Metohija’s declaration of independence violates the very foundations of the international legal order.
Deputy head of the Serbian delegation Sasa Obradovic will also address the judges, as well as international law experts Malcolm Shaw from the UK, Marcel Cohen from Switzerland and Andreas Zimmermann from Germany.
Minister of Foreign Affairs Vuk Jeremic is also attending the beginning of the debate.
In the afternoon part of today’s session the "authors of Kosovo-Metohija’s declaration of independence“, led by Skender Hiseni and British lawyer Michael Wood, will state their arguments. Over the next ten days, until December 11, 28 UN members will also elaborate their stances.
In the upcoming days China, Russia, Spain, Romania, Argentina, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bolivia, Brazil, Burundi, Cyprus, Venezuela and Vietnam will speak on behalf of Serbia and in defence of international law.
The USA, France, the UK, Germany, Albania, the Netherlands, Norway, Croatia, Austria, Bulgaria, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Denmark, Finland and Jordan will speak on behalf of the self-proclaimed Kosovo state.
Having heard the oral arguments, the ICJ will agree upon its advisory opinion, which will not be obligatory for the states.
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