THE HAGUE-Kosovo did not violate international law by declaring independence from Serbia in 2008, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) said Thursday in The Hague. The court's president, Justice Hisashi Owada, said international law contained no "prohibition on declarations of independence". The non-binding opinion by the ICJ, passed by a 10-4 majority, was a blow to Serbia, which had asked for a ruling through the UN General Assembly. Belgrade claimed that the 2008 secession violated its territorial sovereignty, guaranteed by international law. The ruling may also embolden breakaway regions in other countries to seek more autonomy. Serbian Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremic, who was present at the UN court for the reading of the opinion, said the ICJ ruling will not sway Belgrade. "We are continuing our policies and will never recognise Kosovo's independence," Jeremic said outside the ICJ building. Serbia will not abandon its plan to call for a debate in the assembly and push for a resolution demanding new talks on the status of Kosovo, he said. However, Serbia had hoped for an opinion that would have discouraged more countries from recognising Kosovo ahead of the UN debate. So far 69 countries have recognised Kosovo, including the big Western powers" United States, Germany, France and Britain " which are lobbying for more nations to follow suit. Backed by Russia, which has the power of veto in the UN Security Council, Serbia has fought Kosovo's international ambitions, despite warnings that by doing so it took a collision course with the West. While the ICJ opinion binds no country in relation to Kosovo's statehood, it can develop to a major defeat for Serbia's plan to launch a debate in the UN, as it may spark a wave of recognitions from the 123 countries which still have not decided on the step. Kosovo declared independence in February 2008, nine years after Nato ousted Serbia's forces from there to end repression of the population.
