Published online by Cambridge University Press: 06 March 2019
On 22 July 2010, the International Court of Justice (hereinafter the “ICJ”) delivered its advisory opinion on the accordance with international law of the unilateral declaration of independence in respect of Kosovo. The ICJ concluded that the declaration of independence dated 17 February 2008 did not violate any applicable rule of international law consisting of general international law, UNSC resolution 1244 (1999) (hereinafter the “Resolution 1244”) and the Constitutional Framework for Provisional Self-Government in Kosovo (hereinafter the “Constitutional Framework”). The ICJ delivered the advisory opinion in response to a question set out in resolution 63/3 dated 8 October 2008 of the General Assembly of the United Nations Organization (hereinafter the “General Assembly”), which asked if “the unilateral declaration of independence by the Provisional Institutions of Self-Government of Kosovo is in accordance with international law.”
1 Advisory Opinion on the Accordance with International Law of Unilateral Declaration of Independence in Respect of Kosovo, 2010 I.C.J. 141 (July 22) [hereinafter Advisory Opinion].Google Scholar
2 Id. at ¶ 51.Google Scholar
3 Id. at ¶ 56.Google Scholar
4 Id. at ¶ 83.Google Scholar
5 See Uno-Gericht segnet Unabhöngigkeit des Kosovo ab, Financial Times Deutschland, July 22, 2010, http://www.ftd.de/politik/europa/:klage-von-serbien-uno-gericht-segnet-unabhaengigkeit-des-kosovo-ab/50147532.html.Google Scholar
6 Chiang Huang-chih, ICJ's Kosovo decision is vague and very limited, Taipei Times, July 28, 2010, at 8, available at http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/editorials/archi-ves/2010/07/28/2003478995.Google Scholar
7 Advisory Opinion at ¶ 24.Google Scholar
8 Id. at ¶ 25, 27.Google Scholar
9 Id. at ¶ 31.Google Scholar
10 Id. at ¶ 33.Google Scholar
11 Id. at ¶ 34.Google Scholar
12 Id. at ¶ 35.Google Scholar
13 Id. at ¶ 40.Google Scholar
14 Id. at ¶ 42.Google Scholar
15 Id. On GA resolution 377A (V), see Bowett's Law of International Institutions 33–36 (Philippe Sands & Peter Klein eds., 2001); Volker Epping, Internationale Organisationen, in Völkerrecht (Knut Ipsen ed., 1999).Google Scholar
16 Advisory Opinion on Certain Expenses of the United Nations, 1962 I.C.J. 162–164; Advisory Opinion on the Legal Consequences of the Construction of a Wall in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, 2004 I.C.J 150.Google Scholar
17 Advisory Opinion at ¶ 44.Google Scholar
18 On July 28 2010, Serbia's Mission to the UN proposed a draft resolution to the General Assembly condemning one-sided secession as a means of resolving territorial issues and calling for a mutually acceptable solution for all disputed issues through peaceful dialogue, available at: http://www.srbija.gov.rs/vesti/vest.php?id=67879.Google Scholar
19 U.N. SCOR, 6367th mtg., U.N. Doc. S/10000 (Aug. 3, 2010) (Security Council Press Release), available at http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2010/sc10000.doc.htm.Google Scholar
20 Antonio Cassese, International Law 196 (2005).Google Scholar
21 Ian Brownlie, Principles of Public International Law 14–15 (2003).Google Scholar
22 Gazeta Express dated 30 July 2010, at: http://www.gazetaexpress.com.Google Scholar
23 Advisory Opinion at ¶ 52.Google Scholar
24 Id. at ¶ 50.Google Scholar
25 Id. at ¶ 53.Google Scholar
26 Id. at ¶ 54.Google Scholar
27 Id. at ¶ 105.Google Scholar
28 Id. at ¶ 109.Google Scholar
29 Id. at ¶ 91.Google Scholar
30 Id. at ¶ 85.Google Scholar
31 Id. at ¶ 88.Google Scholar
32 Id. at ¶ 89.Google Scholar
33 On a Constitutional Framework For Provisional Self Government in Kosovo, United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo, UNMIK/REG/2001/9 (May 15, 2001), available at http://www.unmikonline.org/regulations/unmikgazette/02english/E2001regs/RE2001_09.pdf.Google Scholar
34 Advisory Opinion (Declaration of Vice-President Tomka), ¶ 18–20, available at http://www.icj-cij.org/docket/files/141/15989.pdf.Google Scholar
35 Advisory Opinion (Dissenting Opinion of Judge Bennouna), ¶ 48–52, available at http://www.icj-cij.org/docket/files/141/15999.pdf.Google Scholar
36 Advisory Opinion (Dissenting Opinion of Judge Koroma), ¶ 4–5, available at http://www.icj-cij.org/docket/files/141/15991.pdf.Google Scholar
37 Advisory Opinion at ¶ 55.Google Scholar
38 Id. at ¶ 55.Google Scholar
39 Id. at ¶ 26.Google Scholar
40 Id. at ¶ 79.Google Scholar
41 James Crawford, The Creation of States in International Law 651 (2006).Google Scholar
42 Advisory Opinion (Declaration of Judge Simma), ¶ 2, available at http://www.icj-cij.org/docket/files/141/15993.pdf.Google Scholar
43 Id. at ¶ 3.Google Scholar
44 Id. at ¶ 3.Google Scholar
45 Id. at ¶ 8.Google Scholar
46 Lotus Judgment No. 9, 1927 P.C.I.J. (ser. A) No. 10, at 18.Google Scholar
47 Case Concerning Military and Paramilitary Activities in and against Nicaragua (merits), 1986 I.C.J. 101, ¶ 269.Google Scholar
48 Legality of the Threat or Use of Nuclear Weapons, 1996 I.C.J. 226, ¶ 52.Google Scholar
49 Advisory Opinion at ¶ 85.Google Scholar
50 Id. at ¶ 94.Google Scholar
51 Id. at ¶ 97.Google Scholar
52 Id. at ¶ 97.Google Scholar
53 Id. at ¶ 98.Google Scholar
54 Id. at ¶ 99.Google Scholar
55 Id. at ¶ 104.Google Scholar
56 Id. at ¶ 104, 114.Google Scholar
57 Id. at ¶ 114.Google Scholar
58 Id. at ¶ 114.Google Scholar
59 Id. at ¶ 115.Google Scholar
60 Id. at ¶ 118.Google Scholar
61 Id. at ¶ 121.Google Scholar
62 Id. at ¶ 92.Google Scholar
63 Erika de Wet, The Governance of Kosovo: SC Res. 1244 and the Establishment and Functioning of EULEX, 103 Am. J. Int'l L 83 (2009).Google Scholar
64 Advisory Opinion at ¶ 98.Google Scholar
65 Id. at ¶ 80.Google Scholar
66 Advisory Opinion (Dissenting Opinion of Judge Koroma) ¶ 22. See also G.A. Res. 2625 (XXV), U.N. Doc. A/8082 (Oct. 24, 1970).Google Scholar
67 Cassese, supra note 20, at 63.Google Scholar
68 Advisory Opinion at ¶ 79.Google Scholar