Kosovo ruling of the ICJ

Commenting on today's ruling of the International Court of Justice on the legality of Kosovo's secession from Serbia, Ulrike Lunacek (Austria) Greens/EFA Foreign Affairs Spokesperson and Rapporteur of the European Parliament for Kosovo, said:

"The Advisory Opinion of the International Court of Justice on the legality of Kosovo's independence is clearer than many had expected. This clear opinion should pave the way for the remaining five EU member states to recognize Kosovo's independence. This would also enhance the credibility and efficiency of EU policies in Kosovo.

I also do hope that the government in Belgrade now acknowledges that its hopes surrounding the ICJ opinion have been in vain, and that Belgrade will concentrate on its path into the European Union and will be willing to form good neighbourly relationships with an independent Kosovo.

Both sides are also requested to keep their emotions down and react very rationally to the advisory opinion. The ruling should be interpreted as a demand for closer cooperation between Belgrade and Prishtina in order to solve existing problems and to pave the way into the European Union. It is now also the moment when Serbia and Kosovo have to endeavour to find a modus vivendi on issues such as the economy, policing or the environment.

Similar to the report on Kosovo presented by Green MEP Ulrike Lunacek and voted by the European Parliament on July 8th by a large majority, the ICJ also makes it clear that there will be no new negotiations on the status of Kosovo. Ulrike Lunacek commented:

"After the parliamentary vote on the independence of Kosovo, the ICJ has now also confirmed the status and the borders of Kosovo. It is also clear that there will be no negotiations about partition or territorial swaps between the North of Kosovo (inhabited mostly by Serbs) and villages dominated by Albanians in the South of Serbia. The Balkans do not need new borders, but an increase in autonomy and minority rights."