ICJ: Kosovo Independence Declaration Does Not Violate International Law Or Resolution 1244

Its obvious that the ICJ will vote in favour of Kosovos independence.

Will never be the same.

Jeremic and company have to be kicking themselves on their decision to initiate a decision. This is a textbook book example of "be careful what you wish for." Let's see how the "spinmeisters" in Belgrade spin this colossal (and embarrassing) defeat. If history is an indicator, Belgrade will dubiously allege that this Court (similar to the Hague Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia) is biased against Serbs. Ah, the sweet, sweet smell of vindication!

This news has made my day. Fantastic! I hope more countries will recognise Kosovo's independence. And no I don't think this ruling will have any effect on other disputed territories. History has a massive say on the legality, and in Kosovo's case (as far as I know), it only became part of Serbia after the death of Tito, with the abolishment of the 1974 constitution.

IT'S ABSOLUTELY INCREDIBLE HOW CAN FEW PERSONS CAN LEGITIMATE A TERRORISTIC ACTION FROM A CRIMINAL 'STATE' AS KOSOVO IS AT THE MOMENT.ITS AUTHORITHIES HAVE ALMOST EVERYONE A SUPER CURRICULUM IN THE MAFIA-DRUG-WEAPONS'-CRIMINAL SECTOR.. I'M REALLY DISGUSTING ABOUT WHAT THE MONEY CAN DO

Very interesting. I can't wait to read the whole thing, because from little that was reported, apparently they said anyone is allowed to declare independence. I have a feeling that this surprised even the EU and US, and I am not sure anyone has any idea how to proceed now in respect to all the other regions in the world. Man, for once I thought things would calm down. But nooo, we have to live through more of the same.

The upbringing of this case to the ICJ by Serbia has proven to be the biggest mistake the country has made to date. Recognitions are bound to come pouring in after this ruling.

I think this is a big mistake and most of all very bad for countries facing same problem in a future. Saying this it is a disgrace for countries who have lobbied judges in making of this decision. There are many irregularities with this ruling and I hope someone will come up with a story supporting this. And to Serbia you are much better off without Europe than rushing into it because you are going to get a boot again and be humiliated by them once more!!!

ICJ couldn't say different because the facts said that kosovars were legal, but ICJ could have maid things more complicated and im glad they didn't.

And one more thing I wish all the best to new independent states that will rise from this ruling

now i hear my serbian friends screaming and saying "the world is againist serbia" i need to ask a few questions: why did serbia take the problem to the i.c.j. if they are not going to respect the decision?this is unbelievable! go Kosovo! kosovo broke all the chains today as i said: i will both celebrate my birthday and kosovo's second birthday today. ps. i think somebody was inviting us to the celebrations in belgrade.i can not hear any music from the serbian side! thanks from Turkey

To prepare Corsica, Baskia, Katalonia, Texas, Scotland, Tirol..etc. Pandora's box is open. Congrats Europe, you just got one more Muslim state.

As an Israeli I would have advised Serbia to profoundly suspect the true agendas of the members of the ICJ, and the utterly corrupt UN. Yes, these people would set another Muslim country in the heart of Europe - the same people who had no qualms when they bombed Belgrade. They have no problem "legitimizing" the cutting away of land that was Serbian from time immemorial. They would do the very same now with Jerusalem. I pray in this regard that Israel will be stronger and smarter than Serbia. Let us see them take the Basque land away from Spain, not to mention Kurdistan and northern Cyprus from Turkey.

As an Israeli I would have advised Serbia to profoundly suspect the true agendas of the members of the ICJ, and the utterly corrupt UN. Yes, these people would set another Muslim country in the heart of Europe - the same people who had no qualms when they bombed Belgrade. They have no problem "legitimizing" the cutting away of land that was Serbian from time immemorial. They would do the very same now with Jerusalem. I pray in this regard that Israel will be stronger and smarter than Serbia. Let us see them take the Basque land away from Spain, not to mention Kurdistan and northern Cyprus from Turkey.

To prepare Corsica, Baskia, Katalonia, Texas, Scotland, Tirol..etc. Pandora's box is open. Congrats Europe, you just got one more Muslim state.

Now lets behave like according international justice: Republika Srpska, Ireland, Kurdistan, Texas...

Ok, now we all should respect court's decision. But don't be surprised if other regions declare their independence, they have all rights to do that (Republic of Srpska, Abkhazia, North Cyprus, South Ossetia, Taiwan, Palestine, parts of Spain, etc...). Even North Kosovo can proclaim it's independence based on this :)

Andi, revise your history. Kosovo has been part of the Serbian Kingdom and later state for centuries, with intermissions when it was under imperial ottoman rule. but all this is beside the point. Kosovo is now officially the new territory in Europe that will serve as accommodation for US military infrastructure. There is no other single reason why all of this is happening.

why did serbia take it to i.c.j. if they weren't going to respect the decision of the court? serbia should accept the big mistake she did.and the goverment in serbia should resign! and i begin to realise that serbians are so worried about seperation of cyprus,spain and u.k. yes serbians are always very interested in world problems...stop turning the words and say something about "why did serbia take the case to i.c.j.?

Kosovo's way is open to go forward but Serbia is not showing to accept this reality! So it is Serbias decission to go back to the past! But be careful, Serbia! Vojvodina would surely not go with Serbia, when they take the way to go to the past instead forward to the future! Congratulation free Kosovo!

no you idiots, europe just got another ALBANIAN STATE........and that thanks to you our serb neighbors........God it sucks to be a serb haaaa.........what pandora's box are you talking about?????? the balkan box was open by serbs with 4 wars and over 300 000 deaths.....and it was closed by KOSOVA's Independence........but serbs will try to open again by trying to steal the north from us...... it will not happen though....... congrats to all people who support those who fight to live and exist.....

Did they just sad that Serbian part of Bosnia (Republic of Serpska-and any other ethnic aria in the world) can do the same now?!? Or this court is making clear that one who haves the brute, row power rules!? One of this two are the only conclusions which any commonsense can understand. This only shows how degraded UN is. So we are back to the beginning, help us God...

ICJ made very clear that Kosovo's is a sui generis case; obviously there is not a Pandora box opening, and the circumstances can not be replicated by any other pretender. Please listen to what was said and how it was said - extremely elaborated arguments, detailed briefing on the unique situation that preceded the Kosovo declaration of independence. The ICJ opinion it is not a threat; don't mislead with biased comments!

Srpska just got a green light for their UDI.

Did they just sad that Serbian part of Bosnia (Republic of Serpska-and any other ethnic aria in the world) can do the same now?!? Or this court is making clear that one who haves the brute, row power rules!? One of this two are the only conclusions which any commonsense can understand. This only shows how degraded UN is. So we are back to the beginning, help us God...

I am not at all surprised by the courts verdict.It is a political world we live in and the more influence you have in the world the more power for manipulation of ICJ. Thanks USA!!! The USA has a plan for Kosovo and it has nothing to do with the people who live there. The US only helps if there is something in for them, ie money,exploitation etc. Let Kosovo have its so called independence, see how much will change when it comes to a better life for the people. Kosovo is a black hole in Europe. I hope they get into the EU and mass immigration of the Albanian people to the rest of Europe and let them deal with the terrorists, mafia and quality of people that is Albanian. To the rest of the areas of the world who want independence please go ahead and open Pandora's box. Let Texas start the movement! Yeah a second Muslim state in Europe!!!

This is absolutely wonderful. It marks the last nail on Serbia's neo colonialists coffin. I hope Peggy, where ever she is, is doing all right. What Serbia now can do to come out with dignity is not to be a sore loser. But, given their fatalist approach in their culture (celebrating a defeat! go figure) I doubt they have what it takes to come out with dignity; too backward to do it.

As a Southron from one of that states that tried to secede from the USA in 1865 to form the Confederate States of America, I cannot help but wonder if Obama is going to apologize for Mr Lincoln's war against us, and let us have our country back. Taking Kosovo from Serbia would be like taking the Alamo away from Texas! Serbia should ignore the UN and the EU and go its own way like Israel does. Bozi ja volija.

Now we have just to sit back and wait for: Cataluna, the Basque country, west Fyrom, republic Srpska...and so on Serbia made the mistake of believing that the ICJ could be neutral. Dear US, would you also celebrate a sovereign Texas? Or a free wales in the case of the UK? Kosovo as part of Serbia could never serve as a military base that actually is.... This is the plan.Small dependent states that can easily serve their purposes. Turkey, Greece and Spain are coming next

You thought by some miracle you would win this one, but all you have achieved was to reinforce your defeat! And don't think that you will get "RS" in exchange for Kosovo! There, you are reinforcing your defeat too!

As a Southron from one of that states that tried to secede from the USA in 1865 to form the Confederate States of America, I cannot help but wonder if Obama is going to apologize for Mr Lincoln's war against us, and let us have our country back. Taking Kosovo from Serbia would be like taking the Alamo away from Texas! Serbia should ignore the UN and the EU and go its own way like Israel does. Bozi ja volija.

THE UN COURT just did the right thing, it punished the CRIMINEL(S)erbs who killed 8000 thousand people just in Srebrenica,IN CROATIA ,OVER 15000 in KOSOVO ect ect countless crimes.!!!!!

I seriously think that all Serbs need to wake up too reality. When Kosovo declared their own independence back in 2008 do u think they did it alone NO!!!!! The UN gave them the green light and chose the date they were to declare themselves an independent country. Just like how u lost Bosnia u have lost Kosovo. SO GIVE UP and concentrate on making Belgrade a better city.

@david dont denegrate the USA by even coming close to making a comparison to serbia. there are 7 new countries formed from serbs Failed attempted theft of the former yugoslavia. todays republic of serbia is 10 years old, has never held kosovo at all...they are a left over Remnant of yugoslavia, they exist as they do because all of their former neighbors left. they delusionally wave about a constitution hand authored by a madman that they themselves had to toss out for their own protection. Same thing goes for the other serb apologists out there... the only possible way you can insult anyones intelligence by implying this ruling will have a negative impact anywhere...is if you intentionally pretend yugoslavia, serbs actions within it, and the last couple of decades didnt happen. serbia isnt a victim by any stretch of the imagination... they are failed thieves that have the temerity to whine. so no David, as a "southron" you cant just leave now. You have to wait till some state in the usa elects a madman who decides to ignore the constitution, tries to take the constitutional powers and representation of its neghbors by force and violence to help impose its will on the rest of the usa, causing a civil war, murdering massive numbers of our fellow americans, rewrites the constituition by hand after deciding hes president... and then demands you swear allegence to him and his new country. yeah, when that happens,THEN you can leave.

NYC said: "This is absolutely wonderful. It marks the last nail on Serbia's neo colonialists coffin. I hope Peggy, where ever she is, is doing all right." Thank you for your concern. I am doing fine. The court found a way out of a mess by saying there is nothing prohibiting a declaration of independence, but what about an actualy secession? Let's see if Russia and China share your enthusiasm or they keep you out of UN forever. The five will keep you out of EU forever. Even if the other four say yes, Cyprus has said they will say no even if Serbia agrees. So you see, you need to establish embassies around the world to trade. Without that you will always remain the burden of US. They will keep you as long as they need Bondsteel. Then they won't care what happens to you. In comes Serbia. Maybe even sooner. In the meantime, nobody can now stop all the others trying to delcare independence. No such thing as unique case. That's only a slogan which can be changed any time, just like KLA is no longer terrorist organisation. It may become that again.

The UN didn't say Kosovo's independence was legal, just that their declaration was.

Stefano, it is amazing how short peoples memories are; cast your mind back to when Serbia was the International Pariah and every Serb was WRONGLY classified as a a bloodthirsty, genocidal bastard!!. You are falling into the trap of generalising, very dangerous. Of course there is Corruption and Mafiosi, Organised Criminals, Drug/Human Traffikers etc. etc. in Kosovo,as there are in Serbia and it's great Ally RUSSIA. All I want to say is that it's better to engage your brain before opening your mouth!!!! Edward.

I don't think so.