UN court hears Serb bid to challenge Kosovo independence

December 1, 2009 - 12:10 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net - The highest U.N. court starts hearings on Tuesday to scrutinise Serbia's bid to challenge the legality of Kosovo's 2008 declaration of independence.

Kosovo declared formal independence from Serbia nine years after a NATO bombing campaign drove out Serb forces to stop the killing of ethnic Albanians in a 1998-99 war.

Serbian Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremic said the Balkan state hoped the court's ruling would help Belgrade put a halt to the number of countries recognising Kosovo's declaration and force Pristina to re-enter talks about its future.

Most Western nations have recognised Kosovo's independence, but neither Serbia, its former ruler, nor Russia have done so.

Serbia wants the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague to give an advisory opinion on the declaration's legality.

Kosovo Deputy Prime Minister Rame Manaj was confident the court would rule in Kosovo's favour.

"We can live together with Serbia only as two independent countries. Serbia deported half of the population out of Kosovo, has killed and massacred more than 12,000 people ... and because of all of these we declared independence," he told Reuters.

"After the court decision we will have more recognitions and Belgrade will not be able to stop them."

Observers say a ruling in Kosovo's favour would lead more countries to recognise its independence, while an adverse opinion could push it into negotiating a settlement with Serbia.

Kosovo's independence has been recognised by 63 countries, 22 of which are European Union member states, but it will need many more before it can become a full U.N. member state.

Nine days of hearings are scheduled before the 15-judge ICJ panel and 30 countries are due to make oral statements, including the United States, Russia and China. Serbia and Kosovo will both make statements on Tuesday.

Advisory opinions are not binding, but carry the authority of the court as the principal U.N. judicial organ. An opinion is expected in a few months.