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Serbian FM leaves for New York to present draft resolution on Kosovo
by Yan via quin - Xinhua News Thursday, Aug 14 2008, 10:31am
international / injustice/law / other press

BELGRADE, Aug. 14 (Xinhua) -- Serbian Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremic left for New York Thursday to present a draft resolution challenging Kosovo's independence.
Jeremic will submit a resolution to the United Nations General Assembly seeking an opinion from the International Court of Justice (ICJ) about the legality of Kosovo's secession from Serbia, said a foreign ministry statement.

Ahead of his trip, Jeremic told Belgrade's Pink TV that the short-term goal of consulting the ICJ on Kosovo is to slow the recognition process, while the long-term goal is that the two sides involved should go back to the negotiating table.

"We believe that our arguments in the area of international law are superior and we hope that we will succeed in moving the resolving of this problem into that area with the adoption of this resolution" at the United Nations, Jeremic said.

So far, 45 countries, including the United States and most EU member countries, have recognized Kosovo's independence that predominantly Albanian Kosovo declared in February. Serbia, with the strong backing from its ally Russia, has refused to accept the split.

An opinion of the Hague-based court would not be binding. But Serbia hopes it would avert further recognition of Kosovo and force renewed negotiations on its status. The General Assembly meeting will be held in September.

It still remains unclear whether Serbia will incur some negative consequences, if the ICJ gives the opinion Belgrade hopes for.


© 2008 Xinhua News Agency

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-08/15/content_9325701.htm