Serbia's reaction to the 2008 Kosovo declaration of independence

Serbia's reaction to the 2008 Kosovo declaration of independence - On 12 February 2008, the Government of Serbia instituted an Action Plan to combat Kosovo's anticipated independence, which stipulated, among other things, recalling the Serbian ambassadors for consultations in protest from any state recognising Kosovo, which it has consistently done. Activities of ambassadors from countries that have recognized independence are limited to meetings with Foreign Ministry lower officials. [http://www.ekonomskitim.sr.gov.yu/et.php?str=novost_detalji&jez=eng&nov=1852 "PROTEST CONVEYED TO FRANCE, BRITAIN, COSTA RICA, AUSTRALIA, ALBANIA"] "The economic team for Kosovo and Metohija and the South of Serbia", 20 February 2008. Link accessed 2008-03-25.]

On 18 February 2008, the Serbian Ministry of the Interior issued an arrest warrant against Hashim Thaçi, Fatmir Sejdiu and Jakup Krasniqi on charges of high treason. [ [http://trebinjedanas.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2029On Podnesena krivična prijava protiv Tačija, Sejdijua i Krasnićija] ]

On 8 March 2008, the Serbian Prime Minister Vojislav Koštunica resigned, dissolving the coalition government, saying it was too divided over the Kosovo situation to carry on. A pre-term parliamentary election will be held on 11 May 2008, together with local elections. [ [http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5gfr72vt3X8HCz0cLInrmZBZgxkZAD8V9CGKO0 PM Dissolves Serbia's Government] , AFP, March 8, 2008.] [ [http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2008/03/08/wserbia108.xml Divisions over Kosovo cripple Serb government] , The Daily Telegraph, March 8, 2008.] President Boris Tadić stated that the government fell "because there was no agreement regarding further EU integration". [ [http://www.b92.net/eng/news/politics-article.php?yyyy=2008&mm=03&dd=10&nav_id=48316 Tadić: Lack of agreement on EU toppled government] ]

On 24 March 2008, Slobodan Samardžić, Minister for Kosovo and Metohija, proposed partitioning Kosovo along ethnic lines, asking the United Nations to ensure that Belgrade can control key institutions and functions in areas where Serbs form a majority [ [http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/03/24/europe/kosovo.php Serbia proposes dividing Kosovo along ethnic lines] , International Herald Tribune, March 25, 2005.] but other members of the Government and the President denied these claims. [ [http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/main/news/8857/ Serb Ministers Deny Kosovo Partition Talks] ] On 25 March 2008, the outgoing Prime Minister, Vojislav Koštunica stated that membership in the EU should be "left aside," until Brussels stated whether it recognized Serbia within its existing borders. [ [http://www.b92.net/eng/news/politics-article.php?yyyy=2008&mm=03&dd=25&nav_id=48766 PM: Serbia not choosing between Russia and West] ]

On 24 July 2008, the Government decided to return its ambassadors to EU countries. [cite news|url=http://www.b92.net/eng/news/politics-article.php?yyyy=2008&mm=07&dd=24&nav_id=52168|title=Govt. to return ambassadors|publisher=B92|date=2008-07-24|accessdate=2008-07-25]

International Court of Justice case

On 26 March 2008, the Government of Serbia announced its plan to call on the International Court of Justice to rule on the declaration of Kosovo’s secession. Serbia will seek to have the court's opinion on whether the declaration was in breach of international law. Also, an initiative seeking international support will be undertaken at the United Nations General Assembly when it gathers again in New York in September of 2008. [ [http://www.b92.net/eng/news/politics-article.php?yyyy=2008&mm=03&dd=26&nav_id=48824 Serbia to go to ICJ over Kosovo] ]

On August 15, Serbian Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremić officially filed a request at the United Nations seeking opinion of the International Court of Justice. United Nations General Assembly will vote on this proposal when it reconvenes in September. [ [http://blic.co.yu/politika.php?id=52984 UN: Jeremić sutra zvanično predaje predlog rezolucije] ]

The text of the resolution filed in the UN reads as follows::Reflecting on the goals and principles of the UN, bearing in mind the functions and power in line with the UN Charter, we recall that on February 17, 2008 the provisional institutions of self-government of Kosovo proclaimed independence from the Republic of Serbia.

:Aware that this act was received differently by UN members in relation to its harmonisation with the existing legal order,

:We decide to request from the ICJ, in line with Article 96 of the UN Charter and Article 65 of the ICJ Statute, to give an advisory opinion on the following question:

:“Is the unilateral declaration of independence by provisional institutions of self-government in Kosovo in accordance with international law?”

The United Nations General Assembly adopted this proposal on October 8 2008 with 77 votes in favor, 6 votes against and 74 abstentions. [cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7658103.stm|title=UN seeks World Court Kosovo view|publisher=BBC|date=2008-10-08|accessdate=2008-10-08]

The 77 countries that voted for the initiative A/63/L.2 of Serbia were: Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei, Cambodia, Chile, China, Costa Rica, Cuba, Cyprus, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, East Timor, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Fiji, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Honduras, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Jamaica, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Lesotho, Liechtenstein, Madagascar, Mauritius, Mexico, Montenegro, Myanmar, Namibia, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, North Korea, Norway, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Philippines, Republic of the Congo, Romania, Russia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Serbia, Singapore, Slovakia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Syria, Tanzania, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vietnam, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

The 6 countries that opposed the initiative were: Albania, Federated States of Micronesia, Marshall Islands, Nauru, Palau and United States.

The 74 countries that abstained from voting were Afghanistan, Andorra, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Canada, Colombia, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Grenada, Haiti, Hungary, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Latvia, Lebanon, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Malaysia, Malta, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Nepal, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Oman, Pakistan, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Saint Lucia, Samoa, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Slovenia, South Korea, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, Vanuatu, and Yemen.

Representatives of 35 countries were absent during the vote, namely Bosnia and Herzegovina, Burundi, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Côte d'Ivoire, Ecuador, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Guinea Bissau, Iraq, Kiribati, Kuwait, Laos, Libya, Malawi, Maldives, Mali, Mauritania, Mozambique, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, São Tomé and Príncipe, Seychelles, Somalia, Tajikistan, Tonga, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu and Venezuela. Liberia voted against the resolution, but the vote wasn't included due to technical reasons. [cite web|url=http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2008/ga10764.doc.htm|title=Backing Request by Serbia, General Assembly Decides to Seek International Court of Justice Ruling on Legality of Kosovo’s Independence|publisher=United Nations|date=2008-10-08|accessdate=2008-10-09] [cite news|url=http://www.blic.rs/politika.php?id=60120|title=Velika diplomatska pobeda Srbije u UN|publisher=Blic|date=2008-10-09|accessdate=2008-10-09|language=Serbian]

Ethnic Serbs in Kosovo

The Serbian Government promised Suspended Serb prison workers from Lipljan money if they were to leave the Kosovo institutions, which they were working in, so they did. However they were never paid, so staged a continued a blockade of the Coordination Center in Gračanica. They claim that Belgrade, the Kosovo Ministry specifically, has not paid them money promised for leaving the Kosovo institutions. [ [http://www.b92.net/eng/news/society-article.php?yyyy=2008&mm=04&dd=02&nav_id=49015 B92 - News - Society - Kosovo Serb prison workers continue protest ] ]

Serbs have also responded by forming their own assembly. "For more see: Community Assembly of Kosovo and Metohija."

See also

*International reaction to the 2008 Kosovo declaration of independence

External links

* [http://www.kim.sr.gov.yu/cms/item/home/rs.html Serbian Ministry for Kosovo and Metohija]

References and notes