国际英语新闻：Serbia submits Kosovo independence legality motion to UN court

BELGRADE, April 17 (Xinhua) -- Serbia submitted on Friday a motion on Kosovo to the United Nations International Court of Justice (ICJ), including legal documents contesting the legality of the Kosovo Albanian unilateral declaration of Kosovo's independence.

    Representatives of Serbia's legal team provided the 700-page documentation, which also includes 83 documents on the events in Serbia's southern province during the 20th century, the official Serbian news agency Tanjug reported.

    The extensive documentation should prove that the unilateral declaration of Kosovo's independence in February 2008 breached international law and violates territorial integrity of Serbia, which is of one of the basic UN principles, said the reports.

    Serbia's team will also try to prove that the regime of provisional administration established by the UN aimed at securing peace and security has been violated, as well as the competencies of the UN Security Council.

    Meanwhile, Kosovo authorities filed Friday at the ICJ in The Hague a declaration on independence legality.

    Kosovo Foreign Minister Skender Hyseni said in the Kosovo capital Pristina that the file with over 200 pages is concise and clear, and was submitted by the Kosovo representative British lawyer Michael Wood.

    Last April Serbia filed the appeal at the ICJ Kosovo's unilateral declaration of independence. In October 2008, the UN General Assembly voted in favor of a non-binding advisory opinion by the ICJ on Kosovo's declaration of independence.

    "We are convinced the Declaration has necessary and undisputed arguments that clarify why Kosovo declared independence, and why Kosovo is and should be a state," said Hyseni in Pristina.

    Over 40 countries have submitted their statements in favor or against the Kosovo's independence. Hyseni was optimistic the majority of them are in favor of independence.

    "Kosovo institutions trust in the impartiality of the court, and we believe the outcome would not harm the future of Kosovo," said Hyseni.

    In shortest term the court may take decision in April 2010. So far it's not clear if there will be open hearings or if the two conflicting parties will be invited to present and defend their positions.