BRATISLAVA, July 23, (WEBNOVINY) — Slovakia will stick to its position it adopted to respect international law, stated President Ivan Gasparovic on Friday in reaction to the published nonbinding advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice in The Hague. According to the International Court of Justice, Kosovo did not violate international law when it unilaterally declared independence from Serbia. “The ruling of the International Court was quite a big surprise for me,” commented the president, whose worked as a law professor in his previous profession.
The president further said that Slovakia adopted a clear stance toward Kosovo’s declaration of independence, referring to respecting international law. “With this regard, I am now in doubt as to what extent the UN’s decisions are binding, in particular considering the UN Security Council,” the president added. He went on to say that the Security Council tried several times to change the resolution 1244 on Kosovo and failed. Therefore, the resolution exists and should be binding in particular for UN members. According to the president, the court’s opinion seems to bypass respecting such agreements.
President Gasparovic admitted that the ICJ opinion is of great importance to the separatists. The court’s opinion reduces the possibilities of further negotiations between Belgrade and Pristina. “A one-sided view in such matters is dangerous,” he pointed out. Slovakia will continue to do everything in its power so that the Balkans do not become a source of new unrest, he added. He admitted also the possibility to rethink the withdrawal Slovak troops from the region if it was to contribute to securing stability in the region.
Kosovo unilaterally declared independence from Serbia in February 2008. Belgrade, supported by Russia, insists that the step was a violation of international law, in particular with the UN Security Council resolution 1244. Thus far, 69 UN members recognized Kosovo’s independence. Slovakia refuses to do so.
SITA
