Written Statement of Venezuela

EMBA.JADA DE LA REPUBLICA BDLIVARIANA DE VENEZUELA No. 333/2009 The Embassy of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela presents its compliments to the Registry of the International Court of Justice, and has the honour to notify attached to this Verbal Note the official advisory opinion of the Government of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela about the Unilateral lndependence by the Provisional Institutions of Kosovo, according to the terms of Resolution A/RES/63/3 of the General Assembly of the United Nations Organization. The Embassy of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela avails itself of this opportunity to renew to the Registry of the International Court of Justice, the assurances of its highest consideration. To the Registry of International Court of Justice The Hague.- Enclose. The Hague; April 24th, 2009 POSITTON OF THE BOLIVARIAN REPUBLIC OF VENEZUELA WITH RESPECT TO . THE UNILATERAL DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE OF THE SERBIAN PROVINCE OF KOSOVO VIOLATION OF THE INTERNATIONAL LAW The Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela supports the initiative by the United Nations General Assembly, set forth in ils resolution A/RES/63/3, to request an ICJ consultative opinion on whether the unilateral declaration of independence of Kosovo complies wîth the International Law, The Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela deems that such consultation is aimed at preventing a breach of the international rule of law, since the unilateral · declaration of independence made by Kosovo impinges upon the international law in force, particularly the principles of territorial integrity and the sovereignty of States. In this regard, the Bolivàrian Republic of Venezuela has already establîshed its position with respect -ta the unilateral proclamation of independence of Kosovo, based on the followîng reasons: 1. The Republic of Serbia is an internationally recognized State, a founder and member of the United Nations, and as such, it îs subject to the principles and rules of the Charter of the United Nations, which guarantees the sovereignty and territorial integrîty of States. 2. The Constitution of the Republic of Serbia states that the province of Kosovo is part of the territory of Serbia. 3. The UN Security Council resolution 1244 states that Kosovo is part of the Republic of Serbia, and reaffirm the "commitment of ail Merribér States to the sovereignty and territorial integrity". The aforementioned has already been included in other Security Council resolutions (e,g. resolutions 1160, 1199, 1203 from 1998, and resolution 1239 from 1999). 4. The unilateral declaration of independence of Kosovo violates the Security Council resolution 1244, as it disobeys the mandate of respecting the territorial !ntegrity and sovereignty of the former Federal Repub.lîc of ,::;.foo\.NAR/Atv"ID . Yugoslavia. "Likewise, the declaration contravenes the international practice . ~ it was made without the agreement of the Republic of Serbia . .jf[. ·~ e recognition of Kosovo contravenes the rules of the lnternatiOnal Law, ~ ·I: ,:: s forth in General Assembly resolution 2625 (XX.V), since such action '~'-~ 0 1?')~ reatens the princîple of not breaching or undervaluing the territorial :c,"7 ç.~ :,,,, , .. J:N LO pj>,\S~/ ~ ... ::.-,,..;~ ._,,,,.? -- integrity of the sovereign States, in accordance with the International Law Commission, Therefore, the . Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela does not recognlze the unilateral declaratipn of independence of Kosovo, since it impinges upon the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Republic of Serbia, the Charter of the United Nations, the Security council resolution 1244 (1999), of the international law, and constîtute a threat to international peace and security. The Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela is confident that the International Court of Justice will act impartially vis-à-vis this process. Such action may allow for the recovery of international legality and the interruption of the separatist policies promoted by the main powers to weaken the developing countries, in violation of the principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity. April 17, 2009. &r~ r/4 ~ ~ rl41a,~>fka, ~nli,,~r.ta r~ ' @->~&~ I. bVM EUROPA N° . 2:) Û 9 I ~ POSICION DE LA RePUBUCA BOLIVAIUANA DE VENEZUELA SOBRE LA DECLARACION UNilAtERAL DE INDEPENDENCIA DE KOSOVO, ACTO VlOLATORIO DEL DERECHO INTERNACIONAL -------.-.-------~-·-------' La Repûblica Bofivariana de Venezuela apoya la inldatlva de la Asamblea Generat de las Naclones Unldas, expresada en la resotuci6n A/RES/63/3, de solldtar a la r.orte Internacional de Justicïa una opinion consultlva · sobre si la declaraciôn unilateral de lndependencia de KOSQVO seajusta al Derec;ho Intemacior,af. Là Republït:a Bolivarlana de Venezuela cansldera que ra tlnalidad de la consulta ante la Corte Intemadonal de JusticJa es irnpedlr que 58 Vfola el orden jurfdîco intemacionaf, pues la declaraciôn de independencia unilateral de Kosovo viola el Oerecho Internadonal vlgente, especialmente los prlnclplos de integridad territorial y soberania de los Estados, En· este sentido, la Repûblica Bolivariana de Venezuela ha manffestado publicamente su posici6n de rechazo ·~ ta prodamacion de îndependencla unllateral de Kosovo, por las Siguientes razones: · 1. la Republica de Serbia œ un Estado lntemacionalmente rconoc:ldo, fundador y mlembro de la Organintci6n de las Naciones Unklas, y por tanto, estâ su,ieto a los prindplrJS y norrna~ de_ la . Carta de las ~ciooes Unidas, qu:e garanman la soberania y lï;l integr=idad temtorial de k>s Estaâos. 2. La Constituci6n de ra Republlca de Sèrbla senala que la provineia de Kosovo forma parte der territorio de Serbia • . ~~~3- La resoluci6n 1244 del Consejo de Segutidad de las Naclones Unidas ~~:~-10~ est.ipu'*3 que Kosovo fonna parte de la Republiœ de Sema y reafirma "el ~~~ott.rs-io~\ mpromlso de todos loi Estados a su soberania y la lntegrldad territorial". o: ~..! ~i\~ . to tambtén ha sido mem:ionado en resoluciones ant:eriores del COnsejo de if;.!\ uridad. Entre ellas, las resoluclones nûmero 1160, 1199, 1203 del aiio · rii 1 . , y là resoh.Jcion mimera 1239 del ano 1999. ~ j j 1 Pâginal d~Z ~ &. r:,'t,,~ ~,;;tJ..~"" &rÛJ/mtigUÛ!n> ~ ~ ~~ ~la~~~~r~ ,o/)q,m.~ 4. La declaraclOn unilateral de independencia de Kosovo es violatoria de la resoluciôn 1244 del Consejo de Seguridad, pues no toma en cuenta su mandato de respetar 18 lntegridad territorial y soœranra de la entonees Republiœ Fedetat'iva de Yugoslavia y1 contradïeiendo la prâctica intemacional, se hiz.o sin contar con el ac:uerdo de la Republica de Serbla. S. 1:1 reconoclmientn de Kosovo constituye un acto contrario alas normas del Derecho Internadonal, consagradas en la Resoluci6n 2625 {XXV) de la Asamblea General de las Naeiones Unidas, ya que atentan contra el ptindpio de no quebrantar o menospreciar la integr1dad tenitonal de los EstadM soberanCJ!i, Siwadôn que na puede ser reconoclda por ningûn Estado, segun lo ha afirmado la Comtsiôn de Dët«:ho tnternacional de la Organlzacl6n de tas Naciones Unklas. En consecuma, la Republica Bolivariana de Venezuela no reconoce la lndependencia de Kcsovo por ser violatoria de la soberanfa y la lntegridad territorial de la Republica de Serbia, de fa Carta de Naciones Unidais, de la Resoluc:i6n 1l44 del Consejo de Segurrdad (afio 1999), del Derecho Intemacbnal, y por constib.Jir un atentado centra la paz y la seguridad intemadonales. La RepwJica Bolivariana de Venezuela confia en que la Corte Illtemacional de Justicia mOSb'ara imparciaJldad en este proceso de consultct, lo ruai permitira rescatar la legandad lntemaclonal eimpedir el clesarrollo de polfticas separatistas que, impulsadas por grandes potenclas, debllltan a los f:sl:ados, irrespetando ls prlnclplos de soberania e integridad territorial. April 17, 2009. J>âgina2 de2