German opposition calls for clear legal grounds for mission to Kosovo
Two German opposition parties, the Liberals and the Left, demand that the federal government ensure flawless legal grounds for the further stay of German armed forces in Kosovo even after the anticipated unilateral declaration of Kosovo’s independence.
(KosovoCompromise Staff) Thursday, January 24, 2008
The Liberals and the Left, however, offer different explanations for their demands.
The Liberals want "clear international legal clarification," which would prevent the possibility of the German armed forces, in case of a lawsuit filed to the Constitutional Court, "being forced to quickly leave Kosovo due to the government's lack of caution."
The Left, however, sees the very declaration of Kosovo's independence as a violation of international law, which Germany must not accept, and is considering the possibility of filing a suit to the Constitutional Court.
Certain EU officials believe that even after the unilateral proclamation of Kosovo's independence, the UN Security Council Resolution 1244 remains valid as the basis for the further stay of the international mission in Kosovo.
But, the German Liberals said that "the German government treats Resolution 1244 as a Swiss cheese with holes," and "uses what suits it as confirmation for its position, while proclaiming that which does not suit it as outdated."
This entire legal dimension could become even more important if the opposition Left decides to file a lawsuit to the Constitutional Court against extending the German armed forces' stay in Kosovo, after the announced unilateral declaration of independence.
According to the Left's MP, Hamburg-based law professor Norman Paech, as carried by the daily Suddeutsche Zeitung, the UN and the EU must not even accept the secession of Kosovo, because that would be interfering with Serbia's internal matters, which is contrary to international law.
