UN sends Serbia's ICJ initiative to GA

The UN General Committee has today decided to accept Serbia's proposal regarding the country's ICJ initiative. Belgrade will now have the chance to seek the backing of UN member states as they gather for the General Assembly later this month, in order to request the opinion of the International Court of Justice, ICJ, over the legality of the Kosovo Albanians' unilateral declaration of independence. UN sends Serbia's ICJ initiative to GA Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremic was in New York today to ask the committee to include Serbia’s initiative on the agenda of the 63rd General Assembly session. Jeremic addressed representatives of this UN body's 28 member-states to reiterate the importance and significance of the resolution calling for the ICJ’s judgment on the legality of the province’s unilaterally declared independence. The minister was optimistic today ahead of the committee voting. He told Belgrade daily Blic that “so far pressure on Serbia to drop the initiative has been extremely strong, but it soon became clear that this would not happen.” The committee is made up of 28 countries, and in order for Serbia’s initiative to be adopted and proceeded to the UN General Assembly, the motion had to be approved by a majority of its member-states. Of the 28, only six members have thus far recognized Kosovo. Professor of International Law Tibor Varadi also said ahead of the session today that he believed Serbia’s initiative would be included on the General Assembly agenda. Labor Minister Rasim Ljajic is also in New York, where he sought support from the Organization of the Islamic Conference. “I expect the great majority of Muslim countries to support our initiative before the General Assembly, given that only six of them have recognized Kosovo so far,” Ljajic said. Kosovo was also an issue in Brussels, where European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso addressed the latest developments. Barroso said that he hoped an agreement would be reached with Serbia, which aspired to become an EU member-state. “I have spoken to Serbian President Boris Tadic. It is obvious that Serbia’s position and the position of the majority of EU member states are in conflict when it comes to Kosovo’s status, but I hope that we’ll manage to overcome that,” he said. UN General Assembly (FoNet, archive)

UN sends Serbia's ICJ initiative to GA

Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremić was in New York today to ask the committee to include Serbia’s initiative on the agenda of the 63rd General Assembly session.

Jeremić addressed representatives of this UN body's 28 member-states to reiterate the importance and significance of the resolution calling for the ICJ’s judgment on the legality of the province’s unilaterally declared independence.

The minister was optimistic today ahead of the committee voting.

He told Belgrade daily Blic that “so far pressure on Serbia to drop the initiative has been extremely strong, but it soon became clear that this would not happen.”

The committee is made up of 28 countries, and in order for Serbia’s initiative to be adopted and proceeded to the UN General Assembly, the motion had to be approved by a majority of its member-states. Of the 28, only six members have thus far recognized Kosovo.

Professor of International Law Tibor Varadi also said ahead of the session today that he believed Serbia’s initiative would be included on the General Assembly agenda.

Labor Minister Rasim Ljajić is also in New York, where he sought support from the Organization of the Islamic Conference.

“I expect the great majority of Muslim countries to support our initiative before the General Assembly, given that only six of them have recognized Kosovo so far,” Ljajić said.

Kosovo was also an issue in Brussels, where European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso addressed the latest developments.

Barroso said that he hoped an agreement would be reached with Serbia, which aspired to become an EU member-state.

“I have spoken to Serbian President Boris Tadić. It is obvious that Serbia’s position and the position of the majority of EU member states are in conflict when it comes to Kosovo’s status, but I hope that we’ll manage to overcome that,” he said.