Monday, November 30, 2009

ICJ OPENS A PUBLIC DEBATE ON KOSOVO ON DECEMBER 1


The International Court of Justice in The Hague will commence a public debate on December 1, at which 30 countries that have applied will present their legal arguments on the issue of the unilaterally proclaimed independence of Kosovo. The debate will last for 10 days, after which 15 judges will study the presented argument and give their opinion of counsel, with a majority of votes, on that issue, which opinion will be presented in public in mid-2010. On the first day of the debate, Serbia will present the argument that secession of Kosovo was illegal and contrary to the international law. On the basis of the stands presented so far, it can be inferred that 16 countries will be defending the unilateral act of Pristina and 15 the stand of Serbia. The ICJ treats Pristina’s submission as a written contribution, as Kosovo is not a UN member-state. The procedure before the ICJ was initiated on the basis of a decision the UN General Assembly adopted on October 8, 2008, at Serbia’s request.

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