Acting Prime Minister and Vetëvendosje leader Albin Kurti has marked the 16th anniversary of the International Court of Justice’s (ICJ) advisory opinion on Kosovo’s declaration of independence, describing it as one of the most significant milestones in the country’s history.
In a statement published on Tuesday, Kurti said the ICJ’s 2010 opinion put to rest the principal legal arguments used to challenge Kosovo’s statehood and independence.
“Today we mark the anniversary of the International Court of Justice’s advisory opinion on the declaration of independence of the Republic of Kosovo—one of the most important moments in the history of our state and a landmark in the development of international law,” Kurti wrote.
“By concluding that Kosovo’s declaration of independence was not in violation of international law, the ICJ brought to an end one of the main legal claims against our statehood and independence.”
Kurti said the advisory opinion reaffirmed a universal principle that international law should not preserve injustice but instead provide a legal framework through which peace, freedom, and democratic self-determination can be realized.
“This opinion reaffirmed a principle of universal value: international law does not exist to preserve injustice or make history irreversible, but to create space for peace, freedom and democratic self-determination to find expression within the international legal order. When interpreted with integrity, the law is not an obstacle to freedom, but its guarantee,” he said.
According to Kurti, the ruling strengthened the foundations of Kosovo’s international legal status while clarifying for the international community that international law does not prohibit declarations of independence and that each case must be assessed on its own legal and factual merits.
He added that the best way to honor the legacy of the ICJ opinion is by continuing to build democratic institutions, uphold the rule of law, and strengthen Kosovo’s legitimacy through responsible governance and development.
Kurti also recalled that the advisory opinion was delivered by the then-President of the ICJ, Professor Hisashi Owada, who was awarded an honorary doctorate by the University of Prishtina last year in recognition of his contributions to international justice, academic excellence, and the promotion of global peace.
