Experts: ICJ opinion cannot be negative for Serbia
It is nearly impossible that the the International Court of Justice advisory opinion on the legality of the unilateral declaration of independence of Kosovo will be negative for Serbia, several Serbian legal experts said on Wednesday.
(KosovoCompromise Staff) Thursday, August 21, 2008
"If the UN General Assembly accepts Serbia's initiative and asks ICJ for an advisory opinion, it is highly likely that ICJ will rule that Kosovo's secession is illegal", Professor of international criminal law at the Belgrade University Milan Skulic said.
"ICJ has demonstrated through its earlier decisions that it cares for the respect of international law. How big Serbia's chances are is demonstrated by the statements of some European Union leaders, who are trying to persuade Serbia to forgo its initiative by warning it that it would have negative effects on the integration process", he said.
Professor of international criminal law at the Belgrade University Momir Milojevic believes that the ICJ opinion cannot be negative for Serbia.
"Interpretation of Resolution 1244 which defines Kosovo as Serbia's province for which the highest degree of autonomy should be negotiated will be crucial", he said.
"This resolution can be changed, but only the same way it was originally adopted - with the approval of UN SC members and Serbia's authorities", he said.