Dutch diplomat Pieter Feith, who previously served in Kosovo as the Head of the EU Office, shared insights in a documentary produced by the Embassy of Kosovo in The Hague marking the anniversary of the International Court of Justice’s (ICJ) advisory opinion on Kosovo’s declaration of independence.
Feith reflected on the profound significance the ruling had for the international community—especially for former UN Special Envoy Martti Ahtisaari.
He recalled how Ahtisaari personally called him after the ICJ confirmed that Kosovo’s declaration of independence did not violate international law, offering his congratulations.
“President Ahtisaari, in Finland, was closely following the developments. When the decision was announced that Kosovo’s independence was not in breach of international law, it was a moment of relief for the international community and a time of celebration in Pristina. I also received a phone call from Ahtisaari, who congratulated us and expressed his joy and satisfaction that the project he initiated through his plan was, in a way, validated and recognized from a legal standpoint,” Feith said.
