2008 Kosovo declaration of independence

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The 2008 Kosovo declaration of independence, which proclaimed the Republic of Kosovo to be an independent and sovereign state, was adopted at a meeting held on 17 February 2008 by 109 out of the 120 members of the Assembly of Kosovo, including the Prime Minister of Kosovo, Hashim Thaçi, and by the President of Kosovo, Fatmir Sejdiu (who was not a member of the Assembly).[1] It was the second declaration of independence by Kosovo's Albanian-majority political institutions; the first was proclaimed on 7 September 1990.[2]

The legality of the declaration has been disputed. Serbia sought international validation and support for its stance that the declaration was illegal, and in October 2008 requested an advisory opinion from the International Court of Justice.[3] The Court determined that the declaration did not violate international law.[4]

As a result of the ICJ decision, a joint Serbia–EU resolution was passed in the United Nations General Assembly which called for an EU-facilitated dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina to "promote cooperation, achieve progress on the path to the European Union and improve the lives of the people."[5] The dialogue resulted in the 2013 Brussels deal between Belgrade and Pristina which abolished all of the Republic of Serbia's institutions in Kosovo. Dejan Pavićević is the official representative of Government of Serbia in Pristina.[6] Valdet Sadiku is the official representative of Kosovo to Serbia.[7]

  1. ^ "Accordance with International Law of the Unilateral Declaration of Independence in Respect of Kosovo" (PDF). International Court of Justice. p. 29. Archived from the original (PDF) on 21 August 2010. Retrieved 19 August 2012.
  2. ^ Howard Clark (August 2000). Civil Resistance in Kosovo. Pluto Press. p. 73. ISBN 978-0-7453-1569-0.
  3. ^ "Serbian president visits Kosovo". BBC News. 17 April 2009. Retrieved 22 April 2010.
  4. ^ "Press Release: Accordance with international law of the unilateral declaration of independence in respect of Kosovo: Advisory Opinion" (PDF). International Court of Justice. 22 July 2010. Archived from the original (PDF) on 7 August 2010. Retrieved 4 August 2010.
  5. ^ "UNGA Resolution 64/298" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 19 February 2018. Retrieved 31 October 2015.
  6. ^ "EU brokers historic Kosovo deal, door opens to Serbia accession". Reuters. 19 April 2013. Retrieved 19 May 2014.
  7. ^ "Kosovo Replaces Liaison Officer to Serbia".