国际英语新闻：UN chief urges parties to avoid provocative steps after Kosovo ruling

UNITED NATIONS, July 22 (Xinhua) -- The UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon Thursday urged all sides to avoid any provocative steps after the ruling of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) that the 2008 Kosovo independence declaration was not illegal.

"The Secretary-General urges all sides to avoid any steps that could be seen as provocative and derail the dialogue," said a statement issued by Ban's spokesperson, adding that the secretary- general "strongly encourages the parties to engage in a constructive dialogue."

The statement said Ban will be forwarding the advisory opinion to the General Assembly, which had requested the Court's advice and which will determine how to proceed on this matter.

The ICJ said in a non-binding opinion on Thursday that the 2008 Kosovo independence declaration does not violate the general international law.

Kosovo, an autonomous Serbian province, unilaterally declared independence from Serbia two years ago and remains under United Nations administration.

In October 2008, Serbia demanded that the UN General Assembly ask the ICJ to issue an opinion on the legality of Kosovo's breakaway from Serbia.