Kosovo is not a unique case, Serbia's president told the UN General Assembly as he asked members to back Belgrade's bid to seek the World Courts opinion on the legality of Kosovo's independence.
Addressing the representatives of United Nations member states, Boris Tadic said Serbia was confident that in asking for the International Court of Justices opinion on Kosovo, this would avoid setting a dangerous precedent in other parts of the world where groups of people have secessionist ambitions.
"We all know that there are dozens of Kosovos throughout the world just waiting for their secession to be legitimised, to be rendered an acceptable norm. Many existing conflicts could escalate, frozen conflicts could reignite, and new ones could be instigated," Belgrade media quoted Tadic as saying.
Last week a United Nations board backed Serbias resolution seeking the International Court of Justices opinion on the legality of Kosovos February 17 declaration of independence, to be put before the 192 UN member countries. Read more: http://balkaninsight.com/en/main/news/13226
The international community has argued that Kosovos independence, which has been recognised by 47 countries, including the United States and the majority of European Union members states, was a unique case and that it could not serve as an example to other movements that might want to follow suit.
Serbia needs simple majority at the General Assembly to get its resolution passed to the Court. However, the US and some EU countries have warned Serbia that its bid was not welcome.
But Tadic said Serbia rejected the argument that Kosovos case was sui generis, adding that that would mean that Kosovo is an exception to international law; that Kosovo should stand beyond the rules that govern the behaviour of the international community.
He further argued that the General Assembly's vote in support of Serbias resolution would reaffirm another key international principle at stake - the right of any UN member state to seek an answer from the World Court on a matter it considers vitally important.
"We also believe that the International Court of Justice advisory opinion would provide politically neutral, yet judicially authoritative guidance, to many countries still deliberating on how to approach Kosovo's unilaterally declared independence and whether it was in line with international law," Tadic argued.
He warned that a vote against Serbias bid could encourage secessionists across the globe to declare their case unique. It would additionally disable any other country to seek the Courts opinion and finally, such attitude could lead to the end of the United Nations system as we know it.
Tadic reiterated Serbias readiness to defend its territorial integrity by peaceful, diplomatic means and described Kosovo as an important region for the Serb nations identity.
"It is an essential link between our proud national past and our proud European future. It is what ties the living tradition of Serbia to the countrys present," Tadic said.
Source: BalkanInsight.com
