Opposition leader: Collapse of state policy

Serb Progressive Party (SNS) leader Tomislav Nikolic says the ICJ Kosovo case opinion marked a complete breakdown of the state policy regarding the province. Nikolic, who heads the most popular opposition party that is neck-and-neck in the polls with the ruling Democrats (DS), told a news conference in Belgrade today that the consequences of this "collapse" should not burden the citizens and the state only, but also those who had been implementing that policy. Opposition leader: Collapse of state policy The top UN court on Thursday in The Hague said that the Kosovo Albanian UDI, which Belgrade rejects as illegal, did not violate international law since there is no active provision that limits independence declarations. The court at the same time did not wish to declare itself on the right to self-determination or secession. It was the current government, led by President Boris Tadic's Democrats, that formulated and sent the case to the ICJ in 2008, via the UN General Assembly. Now Nikolic says that he would like the Bosnian Serb entity, the Republic of Srpska (RS), "to learn some lessons from the ICJ ruling", but assessed that RS Prime Minister Milorad Dodik’s statements on the subject were "only political marketing". The SNS leader said that his party did not wish to have "anyone’s head”, but added that the consequences of the ICJ decision should be faced "by those who assured citizens that all (Kosovo) problems would be solved if only the court was reached”. According to Nikolic, Serbia should now talk about what to do next, and said it was “realistic” that he should hold a meeting with President Boris Tadic. Nikolic repeated his call to all parties with seats in the Serbian parliament to meet and drafts a "joint text" that a majority of MPs would support. Nikolic addresses reporters in Belgrade today (Beta) "ICJ opinion no defeat" Serbia's Deputy Prime Minister and ruling Socialist Party of Serbia leader Ivica Dacic was more optimistic regarding the latest Kosovo status developments when he stated on Thursday that the International Court of Justice (ICJ) advisory opinion "should not be viewed as a defeat of Serbia on the international scale". He pointed out that Serbia should remain consistent in the peaceful and diplomatic protection of its national interests. “Such ICJ advisory opinion does not imply that the secession of ethnic Albanians in Kosovo is justified,” Dacic told Tanjug news agency. Dacic said that Serbia needed unity and harmony in order to overcome political differences, "because when it comes to state interests, it does not matter whether the party is in the government or the opposition". Ruling Democratic Party spokeswoman Jelena Trivan said on Friday that the party would remain true to its views after the International Court of Justice decision on Kosovo and invest all its powers to persist in the fight for that Serbian province instead of using the situation there to score political points. "This moment demands unity and responsibility to defend Serbia and its interest, so I see certain parties' attempts to profit on the blow that Serbia has suffered as inappropriate and shameful," Trivan told Tanjug. She stressed that Serbia's current policy in Kosovo is the only one that enjoys support from the people and is based on parliament resolutions. LDP wants parliament debate Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) leader Cedomir Jovanovic requested on Friday, immediately after an extraordinary session of the Serbian parliament, that a special parliamentary session should be held in order to discuss new policy that will be conducted after the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruling. “The Serbia government does not have enough strength to abandon the wrong policy, but it may count on the LDP assistance in creation of a new policy,” Jovanovic said in a written statement for Tanjug. "It is unacceptable for the Serbian government, which has avoided to clarify its Kosovo policy in parliament for two years already, to take the next steps in the foreign policy without previous discussion in parliament," Jovanovic said. "Force above law" In a strongly worded statement in Belgrade on Thursday, Serbia's Crown Prince Aleksandar Karadjordjevic expressed his disappointment with the ICJ ruling. He said the advisory opinion announced in The Hague "showed clearly that force overcame international law". "By not denouncing the unilateral independence declaration, the court testified to the fact it had no stance of its own, and that it was unnecessary for this amount of time to pass for the decision to be announced to the public, which came from those whose policy and actions have led to the tragedy and lawlessness in Kosovo and Metohija," his cabinet said in Belgrade. Prince Aleksandar also sent a letter to President Boris Tadic, Prime Minister Mirko Cetkovic and Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremic, appealing on them to, despite the advisory opinion, continue with the just fight to preserve the country's sovereignty, the safety of her citizens and her territorial integrity. "I wish you success in your further efforts to preserve peace and good relations with all the regional neighbors. I also wish you success in your efforts to secure Serbia's future in the EU and prosperity for all her citizens," wrote the crown prince.

Opposition leader: Collapse of state policy

The top UN court on Thursday in The Hague said that the Kosovo Albanian UDI, which Belgrade rejects as illegal, did not violate international law since there is no active provision that limits independence declarations. The court at the same time did not wish to declare itself on the right to self-determination or secession.

It was the current government, led by President Boris Tadić's Democrats, that formulated and sent the case to the ICJ in 2008, via the UN General Assembly.

Now Nikolić says that he would like the Bosnian Serb entity, the Republic of Srpska (RS), "to learn some lessons from the ICJ ruling", but assessed that RS Prime Minister Milorad Dodik’s statements on the subject were "only political marketing".

The SNS leader said that his party did not wish to have "anyone’s head”, but added that the consequences of the ICJ decision should be faced "by those who assured citizens that all (Kosovo) problems would be solved if only the court was reached”.

According to Nikolić, Serbia should now talk about what to do next, and said it was “realistic” that he should hold a meeting with President Boris Tadić.

Nikolić repeated his call to all parties with seats in the Serbian parliament to meet and drafts a "joint text" that a majority of MPs would support.

"ICJ opinion no defeat"

Serbia's Deputy Prime Minister and ruling Socialist Party of Serbia leader Ivica Dačić was more optimistic regarding the latest Kosovo status developments when he stated on Thursday that the International Court of Justice (ICJ) advisory opinion "should not be viewed as a defeat of Serbia on the international scale".

He pointed out that Serbia should remain consistent in the peaceful and diplomatic protection of its national interests.

“Such ICJ advisory opinion does not imply that the secession of ethnic Albanians in Kosovo is justified,” Dačić told Tanjug news agency.

Dačić said that Serbia needed unity and harmony in order to overcome political differences, "because when it comes to state interests, it does not matter whether the party is in the government or the opposition".

Ruling Democratic Party spokeswoman Jelena Trivan said on Friday that the party would remain true to its views after the International Court of Justice decision on Kosovo and invest all its powers to persist in the fight for that Serbian province instead of using the situation there to score political points.

"This moment demands unity and responsibility to defend Serbia and its interest, so I see certain parties' attempts to profit on the blow that Serbia has suffered as inappropriate and shameful," Trivan told Tanjug.

She stressed that Serbia's current policy in Kosovo is the only one that enjoys support from the people and is based on parliament resolutions.

LDP wants parliament debate

Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) leader Čedomir Jovanović requested on Friday, immediately after an extraordinary session of the Serbian parliament, that a special parliamentary session should be held in order to discuss new policy that will be conducted after the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruling.

“The Serbia government does not have enough strength to abandon the wrong policy, but it may count on the LDP assistance in creation of a new policy,” Jovanović said in a written statement for Tanjug.

"It is unacceptable for the Serbian government, which has avoided to clarify its Kosovo policy in parliament for two years already, to take the next steps in the foreign policy without previous discussion in parliament," Jovanović said.

"Force above law"

In a strongly worded statement in Belgrade on Thursday, Serbia's Crown Prince Aleksandar Karađorđević expressed his disappointment with the ICJ ruling.

He said the advisory opinion announced in The Hague "showed clearly that force overcame international law".

"By not denouncing the unilateral independence declaration, the court testified to the fact it had no stance of its own, and that it was unnecessary for this amount of time to pass for the decision to be announced to the public, which came from those whose policy and actions have led to the tragedy and lawlessness in Kosovo and Metohija," his cabinet said in Belgrade.

Prince Aleksandar also sent a letter to President Boris Tadić, Prime Minister Mirko Cetković and Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremić, appealing on them to, despite the advisory opinion, continue with the just fight to preserve the country's sovereignty, the safety of her citizens and her territorial integrity.

"I wish you success in your further efforts to preserve peace and good relations with all the regional neighbors. I also wish you success in your efforts to secure Serbia's future in the EU and prosperity for all her citizens," wrote the crown prince.