The International Court of Justice gave its Advisory Opinion on the “Accordance with international law of the unilateral declaration of independence in respect of Kosovo” few months ago. It found no prohibition in general international law, including state practice, the principle of territorial integrity, Security Council resolutions, the principle of self-determination and the right to remedial secession. Neither Resolution 1244 (1999) nor the Constitutional Framework prevented the authors from declaring independence. The author analyses the Court’s approach, its conclusions and the issues which remain open.
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