K. Albanians hail ICJ decision as big victory

Clearly multi-ethnic countries are not working...

Free Hrvatska Republika Herceg-Bosna, Free Rebuplika Srpska, Free North Kosovo

If all Albanians can get up and leave, than Croat and Serb Bosnians should start standing up as well

The intervention of the US in the area has done anything but bring stability. This is far from over.

Congratulations! Declaring independence is not illegal. I declare my independence! This ruling is a slap in the face to Albanian claims of sovereignty and self determination.

"The court said it did not discuss the right to self-determination or secession.

In Priština, Kosovo Albanian President Fatmir Sejdiu said the decision was positive, in favor of the proclamation, and that it "explicitly on all counts spoke in favor of the right to freedom and self-determination of the people of Kosovo". "

If you read the first sentence, this ICJ ruling exactly was NOT about that, the self determination.

"Skender Hyseni, the Kosovo Albanian government's foreign minister, said he expected Serbia to "consider Kosovo to be a sovereign state", given that the International Court of Justice (ICJ) stated that Kosovo's declaration did not constitute a violation of international law."

And again, the ICJ ruling was explicitely NOT about the statehood as a consequence of an UDI.

Personally, I had expected something different: A balanced, but more explicit ruling: The judges' arguments could have been that the territorial integrity of states is one and the violation of human rights of a minority is another basic principly of international law, and that Kosovo was a unique case. But nothing like that was mentioned, the ICJ avoids any conclusions to be drawn from their simple ruling "This UDI cannot be against international law, because the international law doesn't mention an UDI"

It's not over yet. The Serbian people and Goverment will NEVER give up the province of Kosovo at any price.
(PRO-SERBIA, 22 July 2010 23:45)

Well, it's your choice. Kosovo people and will also NEVER give up the freedom of Kosovo at any price.

I must agree that I too expected something different but not what signature “Top” expected, I was expecting a more abstract and diffuse answer from the World Court. Instead we got a precise and clear-cut answer. We must remember that it is a direct answer to a direct and narrow formulation of the question. The question touches upon the declaration in itself and if the institutions of Kosovo were in accordance with international law when they made such a declaration. But the importance of the answer doesn’t, in my opinion, really lie on what parts of international law the court referred to but rather what value sovereign states put into the verdict. I believe, just as the Serbian FM said prior to the opinion being aired, that it carries not only legal but also political and moral weight.

In understanding why the Albanian side would celebrate you need to look at the process as a whole. The Albanian side did not want this; this is a process that was forced upon them and the West. We must not forget that it was Serbia that initiated the process and it is now Serbia that is undermining the courts importance by refusing recognize the importance of the opinion simply by arguing that the court neglected to answer upon specific parts of international law and instead referred to “general international law.” The argument is at its best, weak! The way Serbia responds to the opinion of the World Court will have a direct impact on the prospects of EU integration, something I believe Serbia should actively seek to achieve.

It's not over yet. The Serbian people and Goverment will NEVER give up the province of Kosovo at any price.

And again, the ICJ ruling was explicitely NOT about the statehood as a consequence of an UDI.
(Top, 22 July 2010 21:07)

The question put to ICJ was not about statehood as result of "UDI" either. I know that Serbia tried to turn ICJ on its law consultant but did not succeed. What can we do man? Life goes on.

"The question put to ICJ was not about statehood as result of "UDI" either. I know that Serbia tried to turn ICJ on its law consultant but did not succeed. What can we do man? Life goes on."
(Simpatiku, 23 July 2010 05:53)

Exactly! Life goes on, and nothing really changed in the end. States that recognized Kosovo won't revoke their recognitions, states that decided not to recognize Kosovo won't change their stand.

Clearly multi-ethnic countries are not working...

Free Hrvatska Republika Herceg-Bosna, Free Rebuplika Srpska, Free North Kosovo

If all Albanians can get up and leave, than Croat and Serb Bosnians should start standing up as well

The intervention of the US in the area has done anything but bring stability. This is far from over.

Congratulations! Declaring independence is not illegal. I declare my independence! This ruling is a slap in the face to Albanian claims of sovereignty and self determination.

It's not over yet. The Serbian people and Goverment will NEVER give up the province of Kosovo at any price.

"The court said it did not discuss the right to self-determination or secession.

In Priština, Kosovo Albanian President Fatmir Sejdiu said the decision was positive, in favor of the proclamation, and that it "explicitly on all counts spoke in favor of the right to freedom and self-determination of the people of Kosovo". "

If you read the first sentence, this ICJ ruling exactly was NOT about that, the self determination.

"Skender Hyseni, the Kosovo Albanian government's foreign minister, said he expected Serbia to "consider Kosovo to be a sovereign state", given that the International Court of Justice (ICJ) stated that Kosovo's declaration did not constitute a violation of international law."

And again, the ICJ ruling was explicitely NOT about the statehood as a consequence of an UDI.

Personally, I had expected something different: A balanced, but more explicit ruling: The judges' arguments could have been that the territorial integrity of states is one and the violation of human rights of a minority is another basic principly of international law, and that Kosovo was a unique case. But nothing like that was mentioned, the ICJ avoids any conclusions to be drawn from their simple ruling "This UDI cannot be against international law, because the international law doesn't mention an UDI"

"The question put to ICJ was not about statehood as result of "UDI" either. I know that Serbia tried to turn ICJ on its law consultant but did not succeed. What can we do man? Life goes on."
(Simpatiku, 23 July 2010 05:53)

Exactly! Life goes on, and nothing really changed in the end. States that recognized Kosovo won't revoke their recognitions, states that decided not to recognize Kosovo won't change their stand.

It's not over yet. The Serbian people and Goverment will NEVER give up the province of Kosovo at any price.
(PRO-SERBIA, 22 July 2010 23:45)

Well, it's your choice. Kosovo people and will also NEVER give up the freedom of Kosovo at any price.

And again, the ICJ ruling was explicitely NOT about the statehood as a consequence of an UDI.
(Top, 22 July 2010 21:07)

The question put to ICJ was not about statehood as result of "UDI" either. I know that Serbia tried to turn ICJ on its law consultant but did not succeed. What can we do man? Life goes on.

I must agree that I too expected something different but not what signature “Top” expected, I was expecting a more abstract and diffuse answer from the World Court. Instead we got a precise and clear-cut answer. We must remember that it is a direct answer to a direct and narrow formulation of the question. The question touches upon the declaration in itself and if the institutions of Kosovo were in accordance with international law when they made such a declaration. But the importance of the answer doesn’t, in my opinion, really lie on what parts of international law the court referred to but rather what value sovereign states put into the verdict. I believe, just as the Serbian FM said prior to the opinion being aired, that it carries not only legal but also political and moral weight.

In understanding why the Albanian side would celebrate you need to look at the process as a whole. The Albanian side did not want this; this is a process that was forced upon them and the West. We must not forget that it was Serbia that initiated the process and it is now Serbia that is undermining the courts importance by refusing recognize the importance of the opinion simply by arguing that the court neglected to answer upon specific parts of international law and instead referred to “general international law.” The argument is at its best, weak! The way Serbia responds to the opinion of the World Court will have a direct impact on the prospects of EU integration, something I believe Serbia should actively seek to achieve.