"Kosovo's independence irreversible"

EU representative in Kosovo Pieter Feith says Serbia's ICJ initiative will have no bearing on the mission he heads. This, he explained in an interview with VOA, is because "Kosovo's independence is an irreversible process", while the move is at the same time "not contributing to Serbia's European integrations aspirations". "Kosovo's independence irreversible" "It is quite in order for a UN member to seek advisory opinion and take their complaint before the ICJ, this is certainly better than to resort to other means. However, I believe that in this phase, it is not helpful for Serbia for three reasons," Feith said. The first, according to this EU official, who heads the ICO in Pristina, is that the initiative to ask the ICJ about the legality of the Kosovo Albanians' declaration "does not contribute to Belgrade's aspirations to move closer to the EU, since most EU members have recognized Kosovo". The second reason, he continued, is because the initiative "could have a negative effect on efforts to stabilize the situation", and went on to explain that "there is great unease in Kosovo itself over this initiative, that is slowing down the process of consolidation of Kosovo's statehood". "The third, globally speaking, is because such an opinion could lead to various analogies and comparisons to other crises in the world, which is meeting with objections from some UN member countries," Feith claims. When the VOA reporter remarked that those states that have recognized Kosovo and that believe there was a legal basis for that should not fear the ICJ initiative, the Dutch diplomat said that was true, but that there was the issue of "for how long we'll continue with the mentality that is trying to deny the Kosovo declaration of independence". Feith once again reiterated that he sees "Kosovo's independence as absolutely irreversible", and said that whatever conclusion the court makes, "it is clear that for the government of Kosovo and the countries that recognized it there are no implications that they must return to the act of recognition". "It is an advisory opinion with no binding effect. The practical implications are limited," the EU representative said. As for the legalization of the status of the EU mission, EULEX, rejected by Serbia, Feith confirmed there are "initial contacts between Belgrade and the EU on the EULEX deployment modalities". "Belgrade is aware of the EU's intention to deploy EULEX throughout the territory of Kosovo, there are certain contacts, and let's hope they'll deepen so that EULEX is allowed to deploy in Kosovo," he said.

"Kosovo's independence irreversible"

"It is quite in order for a UN member to seek advisory opinion and take their complaint before the ICJ, this is certainly better than to resort to other means. However, I believe that in this phase, it is not helpful for Serbia for three reasons," Feith said.

The first, according to this EU official, who heads the ICO in Priština, is that the initiative to ask the ICJ about the legality of the Kosovo Albanians' declaration "does not contribute to Belgrade's aspirations to move closer to the EU, since most EU members have recognized Kosovo".

The second reason, he continued, is because the initiative "could have a negative effect on efforts to stabilize the situation", and went on to explain that "there is great unease in Kosovo itself over this initiative, that is slowing down the process of consolidation of Kosovo's statehood".

"The third, globally speaking, is because such an opinion could lead to various analogies and comparisons to other crises in the world, which is meeting with objections from some UN member countries," Feith claims.

When the VOA reporter remarked that those states that have recognized Kosovo and that believe there was a legal basis for that should not fear the ICJ initiative, the Dutch diplomat said that was true, but that there was the issue of "for how long we'll continue with the mentality that is trying to deny the Kosovo declaration of independence".

Feith once again reiterated that he sees "Kosovo's independence as absolutely irreversible", and said that whatever conclusion the court makes, "it is clear that for the government of Kosovo and the countries that recognized it there are no implications that they must return to the act of recognition".

"It is an advisory opinion with no binding effect. The practical implications are limited," the EU representative said.

As for the legalization of the status of the EU mission, EULEX, rejected by Serbia, Feith confirmed there are "initial contacts between Belgrade and the EU on the EULEX deployment modalities".

"Belgrade is aware of the EU's intention to deploy EULEX throughout the territory of Kosovo, there are certain contacts, and let's hope they'll deepen so that EULEX is allowed to deploy in Kosovo," he said.