Anniversary of Kosovo secession proclamation

The Kosovo institutions and ethnic Albanian majority are today marking two years since they proclaimed unilateral independence from Serbia. After two years, Belgrade and Pristina have continued to be in conflict as far as their stances on the declaration are concerned. Anniversary of Kosovo secession proclamation Kosovo has been recognized thus far by 65 of 192 UN member-states, and Serbia has asked the International Court of Justice for its opinion on the legality of Kosovo’s independence proclamation under international law. Belgrade rejected the secession proclamation as illegal, and sees a smaller number of countries that have recognized Kosovo as its greatest success in 2009, according to Kosovo Ministry Secretary of State Oliver Ivanovic. “The fact should not be neglected that the United Nations have approved our demand and that we received a majority of the member-states support for the issue to be taken to the International Court of Justice so that it can be properly analyzed,” Ivanovic said. Speaking about the possibility of an ambiguous opinion by the ICJ, Ivanovic said that this was not likely to happen. “The ICJ must give a legal opinion, and that legal opinion – there's no dilemma in the minds of many experts – must be in our favor,” Ivanovic said. Commenting on the decision of President Boris Tadic not to attend the inauguration of Croatian President Ivo Josipovic because Kosovo President Fatmir Sejdiu will be attending, Ivanovic said that this was one decision that does not represent a significant loss for Serbia, but that Serbia does suffer at some international forums when it refuses to participate over Kosovo Albanian representatives' presence. “Serbia has no intention to ever recognize (Kosovo), not this government, nor any future government, will even think of it,” Ivanovic said, commenting on Sejdiu’s call on Serbia "to recognize Kosovo’s independence". Pristina today (Beta)

Anniversary of Kosovo secession proclamation

Kosovo has been recognized thus far by 65 of 192 UN member-states, and Serbia has asked the International Court of Justice for its opinion on the legality of Kosovo’s independence proclamation under international law.

Belgrade rejected the secession proclamation as illegal, and sees a smaller number of countries that have recognized Kosovo as its greatest success in 2009, according to Kosovo Ministry Secretary of State Oliver Ivanović.

“The fact should not be neglected that the United Nations have approved our demand and that we received a majority of the member-states support for the issue to be taken to the International Court of Justice so that it can be properly analyzed,” Ivanović said.

Speaking about the possibility of an ambiguous opinion by the ICJ, Ivanović said that this was not likely to happen.

“The ICJ must give a legal opinion, and that legal opinion – there's no dilemma in the minds of many experts – must be in our favor,” Ivanović said.

Commenting on the decision of President Boris Tadić not to attend the inauguration of Croatian President Ivo Josipović because Kosovo President Fatmir Sejdiu will be attending, Ivanović said that this was one decision that does not represent a significant loss for Serbia, but that Serbia does suffer at some international forums when it refuses to participate over Kosovo Albanian representatives' presence.

“Serbia has no intention to ever recognize (Kosovo), not this government, nor any future government, will even think of it,” Ivanović said, commenting on Sejdiu’s call on Serbia "to recognize Kosovo’s independence".