Tadic asks UN countries to back Serbia's initiative
Serbian President Boris Tadic has asked countries members of the United Nations to back a resolution seeking the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague about the legality of the unilateral declaration of the independence of Kosovo
(KosovoCompromise Staff) Friday, September 12, 2008
"The opinion of the ICJ would significantly contribute to easing tensions created as a consequence of the unilateral declaration of the intedependence of Kosovo, it would prevent unfavourable developments in the region and facilitate efforts for agreement between all involved sides", Tadic said in a letter sent to all UN members.
"At the forthcoming 63rd UN General Assembly session, Serbia will propose the adoption of a draft resolution. Serbia is requesting from the UN's top judicial body, the ICJ, to give its advisory opinion about the question: Is the unilateral declaration of the independence by the provisional self-government institutions of Kosovo and Metohija in keeping with international law", Tadic said in his letter.
"On the bahalf of the Republic of Serbia, I would like to ask for the support of your country for the inclusion of this issue in the agenda of the forthcoming 63rd UN General Assembly session", Tadic set out in his letter.
"I am also asking for your support during the vote on the draft resolution in the General Assembly", Tadic stated.
He underscored that, by referring to the ICJ, the UN General Assembly would render the Kosovo issue a symbol of the renewed determination of the international community to respect the rule of the law.
"The position of the Republic of Serbia is that the unilaterally declared independence of Kosovo represents the violation of the UN Charter and other key documents of the international legal system and is contrary to UN Security Council Resolution 1244, which says that all member countries are obliged to respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of my country", the Serbian president said in his letter.
He pointed out that the Republic of Serbia continues to exclude the use of force and the introduction of economic sanctions in keeping with this country's commitment to the peaceful resolution of the future status of Kosovo.
"We believe that the most legitimate, most reasonable way of overcoming the potential destabilizing and fatal consequences of Kosovo's unilateral independence declaration would be to transfer the matter to the legal sphere," Tadic's letter concludes.
