Today marks fifteen years since the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague issued its advisory opinion, declaring that Kosovo’s Declaration of Independence did not violate international law.
With ten votes in favor and four against, the ICJ judges ruled on July 22, 2010, in support of Kosovo, rejecting Serbia’s claim that the declaration breached international legal norms.
Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti reacted to the anniversary, stating that the ICJ’s advisory opinion gave decisive legitimacy to the right of the people of Kosovo to statehood, self-determination, and freedom.
“Today marks 15 years since the International Court of Justice issued its Advisory Opinion on Kosovo’s Declaration of Independence. The ICJ opinion shed light on the decisive recognition of the right of the people of Kosovo to statehood, self-determination, and freedom.
It remains a foundational act affirming the legality of Kosovo’s independence under international law—a testament to the international legitimacy of our people’s right to self-determination and a formal confirmation of Serbia’s chauvinistic and colonial approach toward the Albanian people of Kosovo,” Kurti wrote.
According to Kurti, the ICJ opinion is one of the most inspiring moments in international relations, as it gave hope and will to freedom-loving peoples that justice for their cause can indeed triumph.
“The legal value of this opinion, without a doubt, will serve generations of jurists as a lesson in principle and ethics when interpreting and applying universal values. It also serves as a lesson for Serbia, which hastily lobbied the UN General Assembly to ask the Court about the legality of our Republic’s independence. That haste turned into a major defeat for Greater Serbian politics—and symbolically, a lasting reminder of the victims of colonization, systematic discrimination, and Serbia’s acts of genocide,” Kurti concluded.
