Intemationa.l Court ofJustice
Accordance with international law of theUnilateral
Declaration oflndependence by the Provisional
Institutions of Self-government of Kosovo
(Request for an advisory opinion)
WRITTENSTATEMENTOFTHEKINGDOM OFNORWAY
16 Apti.12009 Introduction
1. Byan Order of 17October 2008,the InternationalCourtof Justiceinvitedthe
UnitedNationsand its Member Statesto submitwrittenstatements regardingthe
request for an àdvi$.oryopitlionon the ''Accordance ith.InternationalLawofthe
Unilaten1JDeclm'ation of Independence by the Provi.sionalInstitutions of Se1f
GoverninëntofKosovo".Bythe a,foresaid Ortler,the Court.alsodedded toinvitethe
àuthotsofthe abovededarationtom:akewrittencontiibutionstothe Court.
2. 'Ih~ questiononwhichthe advisoryopinion ofthe Courthas beenrequestedis.
sêt forth.nresolution63/3 (A/RES/63/3)aclopted by the GeneralAsserrtblyofthe
United Nations on 8 October 2Q08 at the22 ndmeeting of its Sixty-thirdSession
(A/63/L.2). Théterms ofthe requestreadasfollows:
"Isthe u:riilateleclarationofii1dependence by the ProvisionalInstitutionsof
Self-Governmen tfKosovoinaccotdancewithinternationallaw?"
3. Norw:ayVoted in favour of re.solütion 63/3. As was made clear by the
:PetmanehtReptesehtafiveof Norwa.y fa his Explanatiortof Vote in the General
Assemb1yof the United Nations,Norway·hadchoséflto $upport thè.proposaiby
Serbi'ato reqqest an advisory opiniohfrom the Cou:ft.HQwever,it was also
tinderlirted'that ,support for the resqltif:ionèannôt be interpretecl as being
incompatiblewithNorway'steèognitiono(the Republic ofKosovp as ?Ilindependent
State. Futthetmore, itwas stated that Nonvayu-uststhat the Court willproceed
accorditïgto establishedprinëiplèsofj4ditial fairnesand w.ilhear and ~sseE!s all
relevantargumentsfrom ailsidës, includingthe Govetnment of Kosovo~ Nôrwàyhas
subsequentlynoted that the Coürthas invitedthe "authors.oftheab ovedeclara,tiori"
to malŒwtitténcontributions to thë Court. Norwaytrusts that this principleof
judiciaifairness will àlsobe âpplied to furthetwritten proceedihgs. and to any
hearingsthe Courtrhaydecidetohold.
Prelinûila:ryremarks
4. Before responding to the specificquestion asked, Norwayréc:allsthat the
Secretaiy-Generalofthe UnitedNations,Mr.l3outros-Ghalie ,ncapsulated,ingeneral
terms, in bis reportAn Agenda for Peace in 1992the importance ofrespect for
territorial sovereignty of States, having regard to the patallel im,portahceof
protectionofhuman rights and the principleofself-determinationofpeoples,in the
contextofmaintenanceofpeace andsecurityand an integrated•approachto humart
1
security,sfollows:
1A/47/277-S/2411117June 1992AnAgendaforPeac-ePreventieipliùnap,eacèmakinandpèace
keepingReportoftheSecretaty-Genernplursuantto.th1:s:taternentadoptedbytheSumniitMeetingof
theSecurityCouncilon31JanÙary199atparagraphsU-19.
2 '"Thefourtdàtion-stoneofthiswork isandmustremainthe State.Respect fotits
fundamentalsoveteignty and integïityare crucialto anycoinrnoninternational
progress.The tùneof absoluteandexclusivesovereignty,however,has passed;
its theorywasnevermatched byreality.It isthe task of1eadersofStatestoday
to understand this and to find a balancehètweentheneeds ofgood intetnal
governance and the requirements of ah ever more in:terdependentwôrld.
Commerce, communications and ehvitomnental mattérs ttanscend
administrativeborders; butinsidethose bordets iswhere individualscarryout
the first order oftheir economic,politicaland.sociallives.The UnitedNations
has notdosed itsdoor.Yetifeveryethnie,religionsot linguisticgroupdaimed
statehood, there would be no limit to fragmentation,and peace, security and
economicwell-beingfor allwouldbecomeevermore difficultto achieve.
Onerequirèmentforsolutionsto these problemsliesincommitmenttohuman
rights-witha spedal sensitivityto thoseofniinoritiès,whether ethnie,religious,
socialot linguistic.(...)
Glôbalismand nationalism.need not be viewedasopposingtrends, doomêdto
spu:r each othèr on to extremes of reaction. The healthy glôbalizationof
contemporaryliferequires inthe fitst instancesolididentitiesandfun:damerital
freedoms. The sovereignty, territorialmtegrity a:ndindependertce of States
wiiliin the established international system, and the principle of self
determîilationfor peoples, both of gteat valueàrid importance, must not be
petmitted to work against each other in the period abead. Respect for
democraticprinciplesat alllevelsofsoda:1existenceis crucial:in comïnunities,
withinStates andwithinthe community of States.Our constant dutyshouldbe
tomaintaintheintegiityofeachwhile Îinding abalanceddesign for all."
5. Itis furthennore recalledthat, in keepingwith this recognition of the crucial
Ïlllportanceof democraticprinciples at a1llevels of social existence, the Su,preme
Coilii:ofCa11ada considered in 1998issues of internationalIaw, in the context of
questions raised with regard to Quebec. When responding to a question as to
whêtherthe.re.m~ybe a positivelegal entitlementto secession under international
lâ.Wit,exçlU:dedsu.chentitlement,except in "the most extçeme of cases and, even
thën, ùnder carefu11ydefinedcrr.cumsfa.nces";2includin possiblywhere apeoplehas·
been deiiieda:nymeàningfulacëess to governmentto putsue its political,economic,
culturaland socialdeveloprriênt:
"We have also considered whether a positivelegal entitlement to secession
exists undèr internationallaw in.the factual circumstarices (...).... a right to
secession only arises under the prihdple of self-detertrtinationof peoples at
2SuprèmeCourtofCanada,ReferencReeSecessioofQuebec(1998)161DLR(4 t)385;115ILR536,at
paragraph126.
3 international law whete 'a people' isgovetned as partof a colonial empire;
where 'a people'is subject to alien subjugation, domination or expfoita&on;and
possiblywhere 'apeople is denied any meaningful exercise ofits right to sèlf
detertninationwithinthe state ofwhich it forrrtsa paIn other cir:cumstances,
peoples are expected to acb.ieveself~dètèrminationwithin the ·framework of
their existing stateA state whose government represertts the whôlê of the
people or peoples residenwithin its territory, on a bofequàlify and without
discrimination>and respects the prlnciples .ofself.detetmination itsinternâl
arrangements, is entitleèlto maintain its territoriâl integrity tmder ii:Jtérn.ational
1aw and to have that territoriàl integrity recogriibyd other statès; Qùebec
does not meet the threshold of a colonial peopleoran Oppressed people, nor
can it be suggested that Qu:ebecets have.been denied meaningful àccess to
government to pursue their political, economic, cùlttirâl and soèial
development(....r;3
lt is .generally recognised that there are extremely strict consttwithsregard to
whether there exists any positive legal entltlement to setession under intetnatfonâl
law (On the opinion ofthe Supremë Gourt ofCanada, see ·fütther James Craw:ford,
TheCreation ofStatesinInternationaL l.aw,2nded.,2006,pp. 119-120).
6.. It is noted that rather than stating conditions of legality of se.cession;
internationaUaw has traditionally aclmowledged secession subsequent to a factual
state of events which has led to a situation in which the constitutive elements of a
Stateare present. Thus, it has also heen held that international law hàs neither
provided for a right to.secession norcondem:ned secessioruming atthe acquisition
of independence (For such propositions, see Chrisfine Haverland, "Secession",in
Encyclopedi afPublicInternationa Llaw, Published under the auspices of the Max
Plane].{In.stitute .for Comparative Public Law and International Law under the
direction ofRudolfBernhardt,2000, Vol.Four, p. 355).
7. The einetgence of a State as a separate international person has often become
man:ifestin the form of a declaration of statehood or of independence Oennings and
Wê:itts, ppenheim' Internationa l aw,9ihed,, 1993,p. 1190,note 7). Neverthe1ess,
as regards international law, the existence of statehood is a question of fact relying
on an assessrnent of constitutive elements including a defined territory, permanent
population, effective governmentand legal capadty to enter into relationwith the
othet States.
8. Nonè ofthe above questions, nor questionsofrecognition, have, however, been
raised by the General Assembly of the United Nations in its request fur an advisory
opîtûorifrom the Court
aIbid.,paragraph154.
4 Observations concemin~ the nature of the Declaratlôn of Independence
9. The specificquestionasked by the GeneralAssemblyofthe UnitedNations,
and uponwhichan advisoryopinionis requested,concemswhetherthe issuance of
Kosovo'sDeclarationoflndependence of17February2008consti.tutesaviolationof
any applicablerule of internationallaw. Accordingly,Norwaywill in the following
focusonthisquestion.
10~ Ffrst,it isnotedthat a declarationofindependenceisnot,as such,theobjectof
regûlationbypublic.internationaIaw.In sofaras itis consideredafactualeventor a
politicalfact,.ithforinstancebeen heldthat intemat:ionallawlargelylirnitsitselfto
drawingconsequences fro:mit shouldsuch a dedarationresultin theestablishment
of effeçtivëMd stable state authorities (NguyenQuocDinh,Daillier,Pèllet,Droit
internationaplublic,2002,7thed.pp.526-7).
1L Second,resolution1244 (1999)of the SecurityCouncilof the United Nations
does not set outobligation$under internationallawprobibitingthe issuanceofsuch
a declarationof independence,.or ITI~ingit invalid,aswas the case as stated in
SecurifyCôuncilresoltttion541 (1983) withregard to the declaratioby a ''Turkish
Cypliot Legisléltivessembly"on 15 November 1983 of the establishment of a
'"lürkishRepublicofNorthernCyprus".
12. It is noted that in rei:;olul244 (1999),the SecurityCouncUof the United
Nàtions authorised the SëcretarylGenerat with th.e. assistance of relevant
i'nterriatio:olrganisations,to establish an internaticivipresence in Kosovoin
order to pr'Ovidéan interim administrationfor Kosovounder whlch the peopleof
Kosovocan ênjoy substa:ntiautonoµiywithinthe Federàl RepublicofYugoslavia,
andwhlchwillprovidetransiti.onaladministrationwhileesta1J1ishlngand overseeing
the developmèrttofprôvisioiialdemoctatic self-governinginstitutions (op.p. 10).
Suth ptovisionalihstitutionsfor dembctâticand aùtortomouss.elf-governmentwere
t6 carryout their functionspehding apoliticàlsettlement,induding the holdingof
eiectiùns(op.p.11).
13. The PtovisionalInstitutionsofSelf-Govemmentof Ko.sovo were subsequently
established pursuant to the Cônstitutional Framewofk for Provisional Self
Govenimentpromulgatèdby UNMIKon 15 May 2001 (UNMIK/REG/2001/1/9),
which sets out thëit powets; Howev:er,neithet the form ot content, rior the
circumstances or stated background for the acloptlonof the Declanttion of
Indëpendence signifythat the latter was an enactmeiltby tlle AsseniblyofKosovo,
acting inthe tapâcity of a ProvisîonâlInstitutionofSélf-GovernthentInste~d,the
Dedatationhas beërt takenbyNorwayto be a statetnèntwhoseexplicitpurposewas
to expressthe willofdemocratkallyelected représentatives.ofthe peoplebôthwith
regard to Kosovo'sfinalstatusandwithregard tothe protectionofhum.ailrlghts and
minoritiesandotherguarantees.
514. This viewis supportedby the fact that the DeclarationofIndependence was
issued on 17 Febiuary 2008 itlan ex1raordinârymeeting of the Asseniblyin the
presence of President Fatmir Sejdiu and Prime Minister Hashim Thaçi. The
Declarationwas moreover sjgned by the President, the Prime Minister and the
mentbètsofthe Assembly;Furthermore, this view isctm:firmedby the factthat the
Declarationwasmadeinthenaineof"[w]ë,the democtaûcaJly-èlecteld e~dersof pur
people".As such, the Dedata1forthas severalcharactèristicscommofilyassôciàted
e.g;with statementsbyconsûtttehtassemblies.Finally,the prac.ti.ofdistinguisbing
betweenacts ofparticularorgansandthe statelll.élltointlymadebytheir membet~
is recallea, as exempli:fiedf,or instance, by statetnents to the press rby<lthè
Presidentofthe SecurityCoun.dlofthe UnitedNationsonbehalfofits mémbérs.
15. The Norwegianauthoritleshave thushot consideredthe Declarationto have
been made either in the name ofthe ProvisionalInstitutionsofSelf~Governmer' itf
Kosovoor in the latter'scapacityas refertêdto ih SecurityCouncilresoluti.on1244
(1999) andthe Constitutiortal rameworkof2001.
16. Moreover,SecurityCoundl resolution 1244does not tiike a position on the
questionofKosovo's :finâlstatus;Neither doeitaddressthe questionas to vyhèth!:'!r
democraticallyelectedtepresentatlvesèouid·issue a declarationexpressinthêiw r i1l
as to the finalstatus of Kosovo.Furthermore, the wordingof inter a1iaAnnëx 2 of
resolution1244concerns·onlythe interimperiodofinternationaladministrationand
not the issue of:finalstat:üs,which wasleft open.Refereficeis made to the fa:ètùal
assessments made by the SpecialEnvoy of the Secretary-Generalin his report
referred to below as to the·situationrelating to the politicalprocess designed to
determineKosovo's future,status.
17. It is, in this context, also noted that subsequent to the Declarati:onof
Independence,neither the SecurityCouncilnor other UN organs have issued any
statements pertainingto the validityofhe DeclarationofIndependenceWJ.thin the
frameworkforthe ProvisionalSelf-Governmeno tfKosovo.
Analysis of the particular circumstances prevailing .inKosovo
18. Regardless of the above considerations,reference is made to the particular
course ofeventsfollowingthe extraordinarysituationthathad arisen withregard to
thedeadlockinthe politlcalprocess designedto detennine Kosovo'sfuturestatusin
accordancewithSecu;ri:tCyouncilresolution1244.
19. In responding to the invitationby the Court to furnish informationon the
Speci:fiquestionraised,in accordancewithArticles65and 66 ofthe Statuteofthe
Court,Norwaywillnot attemptto enumerate or summarisethe abundanthistorie.al
6and legal sources relevant to the situation in Kosovo. Instead, it is deemed
appropriàteto transmittothe Court doéunientsor other informationlikelyto throw
lightuponfue questionsubmittèdforanadvisofyopinion.
20. Norway has the honour to transmit to the Court for its infütmation the
NorwegianRoyalDecree adopted by the King in Councilon 28Îvlatch2008,based
on a proposal formallysubmitted on 26 Match 2008. by the l\fül.istofForeign
Affairs; Certified copies of the original document(Amzëx 1) and an El::tglish
trans1ation (Annex 2) are enc1osedhetewith, The R,oyalDect'êecontain~'the
assessments.made bythe GovemmentofNorwayin the walΠofthe Declara:tioof
Independence of 17 Febtuaty 2008,includingas regards questions ofin:t~rnatiônal
law..
2i. N orway'srecognitionofthe RepublicofKosovowas sü.bsequerttgyivenin a
letter date28 March 2008from the NorwegianForeign Ministerto the Presid<:!nt
and the Prime Minister of Kosovo;Since this letter also niake~·rèfëre'nŒsta the
Declaration o:fIndependence and expresses interpretafümsrefating thereto, it is
herewithtransmittedto the Courtfor itsinformati(Annex3).
22. The purpose of the RoyalDecree of 28 March 2008was twofôld.Firstly,it
specifiedthe grounds for Norway'srecognition ofthe Republicof Kosovoas an
indepenrlent State. Secondly,it set out the gro-undsfor Norway'sassertion that it
consideredtheletter ofl7 February2008fromthe Presidentand the PrimeMînister
of Kosovo,with the endosed DeclaràtiOnof Independence, as a statement that is
hÎ!ldingunder internationallaw.'Thisapp1iesto thefülfilmentofthe therein provided
gt.taranteesr,elated to communityrights and the protectionofthe SerbiàfiÔrthotÏox
Church Ùll<osovoandthe.niles•ofinternationallawreferred to in the I)eclarationof
lndet>endênceS .uch assertion was set out in the aforesaid Norwegia:nletter of
recô,griifüof28March2008.
23. As may be seen from the RoyalDecree, the NorwegianGovernm.entplaced
g:reatmphasis on the particularcircumstancesprevaillngin Kosovo,as recognised
by the cornpetentinternationalmechanismestablishedin accordancewith Security
Councilresolution1244 tolead1hepoliticaprocess designedto determineKosoV'o's
future status, bearingin rninditsfundamentalimportancefor internationalpeaceand
sectirltm 1hetegion.
24. The Royal Decree was incidëntallysubmitted a year to the day after the
Sëcretary"'Generalof the United Nations bad submitted to the President of the
Security Council of the United Nations füs letter dated 26 March 2007 with
tecommendatibns o:h Kosov:o'sfuture status (S/2007/168). Having taken into
account the developmentsin the prôcess designed to determfue Kosovo'sfuture
status,1heSectetary-Generalhad expressedhlsfullsupportfor the recommendation
made by bisSpèciàlEnvoyonKosovo'sfuture status,Mr.MarttiAhtisaari.
725. It was the firtnviewof the S_peëial nvoyoil Kosovo'sfuture status thatthe
negotiations'potential to produce .anymutu:allyagreeable otitcome had been
exhausted (paragraph3 ofthe saidreport). liestâted that almosteight yearshad
passëd .sînce the SècuritCoundl ha~ adopteq te.solutio1244 (1999),arJ,dthat
Kosovo~scu.rrentstate of llmho could·not continue. Pretënding otherwiseand
denyingor delayfugtesolutiorof Kosovo'sstatusnsked,.inbisview,challengingnot
onlyits own.stabllitbutthepeàéeandstabilityofthèrégionasawhôle(patagraph
4).
26. The Special Envoystated in his reportthat the time hâd corne fü resolve
Kosovo's staius.Aftetcarefulconsideratioof Kosovô'srecenthistory,the rëalities
ofKosovo today and takingititoaccoillitthnegoti.ations iththè patt:ies,he had
corneto.the conclusionthatthe onlyviableoptionforKosovo wasindepèndertcet,o
be supervisedfor an initialpériodbythefütèrnationâcomtntinity(patagraph5)~In
hts view; while UNMlK had made considerable achievements in Kosovo,
internationaladministrationofKosovoCotildri.Ot·Cdrttiuearagtaph8).Thereport
referredto the factthatKosovowa:sa uniqueèasethat ciemandeda uniquesolution,
forreasonssummarised initsparagraph15,
27. The SpecialEnvoyon Kosovo'sfuturestatus asserted rrioteoverthat every
possibleavenue.taachievea negotiatedsettlementhad been exhausted (paragràph
16). In..bis assessment, the process that shot.îldhave:culminatedinà poiitical
settlementhad reachec1an1mpasse. No amountoftalks,whateverthe fotni:at ,ould
overcomethis impasse (paragraphs1 ,and 3).Atthe same time1 and as refettedto
above,he stated t:hatKosovo'sstateoÎlimbocotildnot continue;These e:xtremely
seriousassessmentsweremadebythe internationalmechanismentrusteê liththe
task of leading the pro:cess designed to determine Kosovo'sfuture status, in
accordance with SecurityCouncilresôlution1244.Asrecalledbythe.Specia1 Envoy,
his mandatealsoexp1icitlyprovidedfüat he determinethe paceanddurationofthe
futurestaius.process.Theseassessmentsweredeemed byNonvaytobe particularly
pertinentinthelegalandpoliticalanalysisofsubsequentfactualevents.
28. The RoyalDecreeof28March2008alsorefersto renewedinternationalefforts
carriec Jut subsequent to the a:forementionereport to the SecurityCouncilon
26Màrch 2007;However,theseeffortsalsofailedtobreakthe deadlockbetweenthe
partiesorleadto agreement intheSecurityCouncil.
29. Kosovo'sDeclarationofIndependenceof17February 2008wasswütlyfollowed
by a large number of Statesformallyrecognisingthe Republicof Kosovo.Among
these wete, at thetime ofNorway'srecognition,32 Statesthat includedkey donor
countriesand majorcontributorstothe internationalmllitaryandcivilianpresencein
Kosovo,a$wellas to develOpmena tndthe rule oflaw inthe area. Sincethen, most
8 EuropeanStates,inçluclingthe majorityoftheformerYugoslavrepublics,andother
StateshâvetècognisedtheRepublicofKosovo.
30. Norwayne~dnotrecallthedetailsofthe priorsequ.ence of eventsth~tinduded
the abolishmentand long-standingdenial.ofK:osovcis constitutiomfüyguat~teed
autonomy and the systernatic e:ll'.clusinf its people frorn the e:x:erciseof
fuildamêiltaclivilriglits,as ttfetfo<in the RoyalD.ecrêo ef281\farèh·2Q08 N. or
wil1Norwaysurnmarise thesystematicviôlationsofhumart.rights ànd international
htin,1anitariaw,irtcludingcrimesagainstlmmanity,çoinm:itted l:iyorcesurtderthe
cortttolofthe FederalRepublic of Yugo~lav:iaand Serbia.n,àut,h.oritsnddirected
againstthe Albaniartçivilianpopulatfo:in 1999.With regard to thelatter events,
refetenceis rnerelymadet9 the compr~ensive assessmènJofevidencecarri~dout
bythe Ifitèrnatioril:rifuîùTlribunalfortheformerYugoslavfa inthe Milutinoviéet
4
alcase (2009),asexempli:fiebdythéfoÏlOwirtagêcount:
"Inspiteofthese daims,andhavingmadèthe abovèfüldings inrelationtoeach
ofthe13municipalitieswhete spectfi crimeswerethm'gèd1theTriaC l hambèr
issatisfiedthatthere was a btoaà.campaignofviolenceclirectedagru.rtstthe
KosovoAlbaniancivilian pop .lâtiortdu.ringth..oursoef..e.··Aw ·.i~strlk.e.
conductedbyforces un der the controlofthe FRY and $etbiâh aüthorlties;The
witnèsseswho testifiédboth about their own experiêiicesap:dthat of theit
familles,friends,.ndrt.ighbour.;. the few week' bet.ee..4March@. ...
beginningof June 1999,gave a broadlyêonsi~tëht acêptlhotf the foar that
reigned in towns and villages across Kosovo, n.otbecâusë of th~ NATO
bombing,but rather hecause of the actionsof the VJ alldMIJP forcésthat
accompaniedit. In ail of the 13 municipalitiesthe Charnbérhas found that
forcesofthe FRYand SerbfadeliberatelyexpèlledKosovoAlbaniansftointheir
homes,eitherbyorderingthemtoleave,orbycreàtihganatmosphèreoftêtrot
in orderto effecttheir departure.Asthese peoplelefttheit homes andmoved
either within Kosovo or towarcisand across its borders, many of them
continuedto bethreatened,robbed,mistreated, and otherwiseabused.Inmany
places men were separatedfrom womenand children, their vehicleswere
stolen or destroyed,their houses were deliberatelyset on fire, mo:neywas
extortedfromthem,andtheywereforcedto.relinquishtheir petsonàlidentity
documents."
31. In accordancewîth resolution1244ofthe SecurityCouncil,Kosovohad not
be.encontrolledor governed hy Serbiasince 1999.The territory had been under
internationalciviladrrûnistratifor an exten-deperiod.Norwayis a lorig~standing
contribufortothe vruiousinternationaleffortsto promotethe objectivesofSecurity
Councilresolution1244.These includecontributionsto the NATO-ledKFOR,the
4InternationalCriminalTribunalfortheformerYugoslaviaj,nProsecutorv.MilanMetal.,ovié
CaseNo.IT-05-87-J,udgement26February2009,volp.40$,patagrap1156.
9InterimAdministrationMissionin K'.osovo (lJNMIK),the ElJ~ledEULEXmission,
the OSCEMissioninKosovo,whid1isthe latgestfièldQpet<1fiooftheOtgartizatiort
for SeturityandCoopetâtion in Europe.Iii additio»Norwa ysa:significantdorior,
corttrfb11.tNgOK 140 million (~boütEUR17 million) in a$sistartctô Kosovoin
2008.
32. As set outin the Notw~gian RoyalDecreeof28 Marë:h 2008,Notwaytookdue
note of thelegal obligationstirldertakënbythe twô teptesentatives ofKosovob ,y
teferenceto the Declaratfonof Irtdependence,witlJregard to the Cq.tnprehensive
Proposa1for the KosovoStâtus Settlementpresentèd by théUnitedNation.s$pedal
Envoy,comprisingassurancesfor a multi-ethnic,demottaticfuture fot Kosovoand
protectionof the rights of all ofKosovdscOmmtinitie isduding the ptotettionof
the SerbianOrthodox Chutch in Kdsovo,àlld internatlônals~petvisiôn·of·Kosovo.
The Notwegian Govetnmenttelieson füe assurancesprovidedl)y the Presidentand
the Prime Ministet ofKosovoas a bfudingutùlatëtaldeclaratfonc .ontaj.nina c1ear
affirmationof internationallegalobligations;includingas tegatdsthe protèètionof
humanrîght$.
33. Notwayresped:füllynotes tha:btothits RoyalDècteeof 28Match 2008andits
letterofrecogriition·othe saïne dateshowthat Norwayre1iedon the Declarationof
Independence,in tetms of iiitemationa11awi ,n so fatas itwàs teferred to in the
statement made by rèptesentatives ofa State, and as règatds their expressionof
consent to be bound by speèi:fiedînternationallëgal obligations and undertake
co:tnmitmentsreiatingthereto.
34. Norwaynotes that the Decîaration ofIndependenceas suchwasnotconsidered
to constitute any legalÎy binding unilateral declaration under intemationàl Iaw.
However,insofar asit sU:bsequently wasreferredto by authoritativereptesentatives
of a State, it was. considered part of a bincling·uniiateral dedaration urtder
international law under the prevailing extraorclinary circumstances descrîbed.
Norway cannotfàilto drawthe attentionofthe Court to the importanceattached by
the Nonv:egianGovernment,as documentedin the aforesaidRoyalDecree andJetter
fromthe ForeignMinister of28March2008,to the wordingofthe·text as regards
the decfaredwillingnessto become bound by important obligationsof respectfor
humanrights·andother guaranteesdeemedrelevant inthe contextofpreservation of
internationalpeace and security, induding Security Councilresolution 1244. As
such, the Declaration of Independence is i1 the opinion of Norway, not in
contravention of applicable nûes of international law. On the contrary, the
Declarationexpressescommitmentswith regardto respect for human rights and
other importantguarantees. Norwayconsidersthe Declarationof Independenceto
havebecomepart ofa bindingunilateraldeclaratloncontaininga cle.araffirmationof
internationalegal obligationsthatare deemed essential to international peaand
securityintheregionandthe promotionofhumanrights.
10 Conclµsion
35. For the reasons set out in this state, orwayrespectfullyrequests the
Courttofindthat theDeclàratiofl:tidependenceis$ldh17February 2008does
notconttavenanyapplicablerule Qfintern11tlw.â
~~~t
Oslo~16April2009 R~inarFife.
Dirëctot Gëneraj
DepatfüientfoLegaJ.Affaits
Miriistr·fForeignAffairs
(R.~p:qeserimureue
Kingdomof Notway)
11 Annexes to th.ewrit:testatetnent
Annex1: NorwegianRoyalDecreeadoptedbythe KinginCouncilon28March
200$
Annex 2: NorwegianR. oyalDecreea:doptehythe KinginCoun:ciol n28Match
200$(Ênglish translation) · ·
Ann~ 3: Letter.dated28March2008ftomtheNorwegianForeignMinistertothe
Presidentand the PrimeMinisterofKôsovo
12 Ann.ex1
NotwegianRoyalDecreeadoptedbytheKinginCouncilon28March2008
(foranEnglishtranslation- seeAnnex2) UTENRIKSDEPAR'fEMENTET KONGEUGRESOLUSJON
Utemiksminister Jonas Ga.brSt0re
Rei nr: 53
Saksnr:
Dato: 26.mars 2008
ANERHJENNELSEAVREPUBUKKEN KOSOVOSOM
SELVSTENDIGSTAT- NAERMERE FORUfSEr.NINGER
l.Bakgnmn
I 194bleKosovoen autonomprovinsinnenforrammenavdenserbiske
republikk.Dennestatus blefastslâttiDensosialistismderative republikk
Jugoslaviasgrunnlovav1974.Detomfattendeselvstyretblebrakttil opph0r
underpresidentMilosevici 1989,ogfurtetil0kendeetniskuro. Somfulgeav
konflikteneiJugoslaviatidligpâ 1990-tal,ikk dentidligerejugoslaviske
fuderasjonenioppleJsning.1998bleogsâsituasjoneniKosovosa:ttpâ
dagsordeni FNs sikkerhetsrâd,somfulgeavomfattendeovergrepmotden
kosovo-albanskebefolkning.EtterNATO-intervensjonein1999vedtok
Sikkerhetsrâdetresolusjon1244.Resolusjonenforutsatteetintemasjonalt
siviltnrervreFNs regi og etinternasjonaltinilitrertnrervreründerNATOs
ledelse(KFOR),Menssistnevnteskulleivaretasikkerhetogstabilitet,skulle
detsivilenrervreretunderledelseavUNMIK ienovergangsperiodearbeide
for âumkle sivilestrukturer ogkapasitetfor etmultietrûskKosovoinnenfor
rammenavDenfuderalerepublikkenJugoslâvia.
Siden1999har se:rbiskemyndigheterikkeuwvdmymligheti ellerkontroll
overterrltoriet,sombar vrertheltunderlagtinternasjonaladministrasjonog
selvstyreordninger,ipâventeavmennere avklaringer.Kosovosbefolkning
pâca.2millioner,bestâr avover90prosentetniskealbanere.
I2005 satte Sikkerhetsràdeten avklaringavKosovosendeligestatuspâ
dagsorden,isamsvarmeden anbefalingi en rapportskrevetavnordmannen
KaiEide i et oppdrag pâ vegne avFNsgeneralsekretrerFinlands tidligere
presidentMarttiAhtisaaribleutnevnttilFNs spesialutsendingfordette
fonnâ].Etterlange og resultatwsedr.roftelr edpartenefremlahan i
februar2007et l.0sningsforsla,tjentsomAhtisaari~planenD.ennefikk
tilslutningavFNsgeneralsekretrer,ogbleoversendt tiFNssikkerhetsrâd
~6.mars 2007(FN-dok.S/2007/168). S.ikkerhetsrâdekt unneimidlertidîkke
,::neom denne. 2. Planens foirslag og forutsetninger
EnavklarlngavKosovosstatuser ansettavgrunnleggendebetydningfor
internasjonalfred ogsikkerhetiregionen.FortsattQsikkerhetomomradets
statusutgj0rethinderforKosovosdemokratiskeutvikling,mulighetenefor
âkunneholdepolitiskemyndighetertilansvar,0konomiskgjenoppbygging
ogforsoning.FortsattusikkerhetvilleledetilytterUgere stagnasjon,
polariseringmellometnîskegrupper,ogsosîalogpolitisk uro.
Dersomman emsker etpolitiskstabiltog.0konomisklevedyktigKosovo,er
det etter omfattendeintemasjonalebestrebelserikke identifisertnoe
altemativtiluavhengighetfortenitoriet.Bareinnenforrammenaven
selvstendigstatvildemokratiskeinstitusjonerfullutkunneholdes tiansvar
forgodt styresettog effektivbeskyttelseavminoriteteneihenholdtil
grunnlovsgarantier.Srerligeminoritetsrettigheter,desentralisering,
beskyttelseavdenserbisk--0rtodoksk eirkeiKosovooggrunnleggende
rettsstatsprinsipperstâr sentraltidenneforbmde1se.IlysavKosovosfortsatt
begrensedekapasitettilâ hândterealleutfordringene,anses detfortsatt
oodvendigmed intemasjonalstlrtteogoppsyn,inntilvideregjennom
intemasjonalesivileogmllitrerenrervrer.Internasjonaltoppsyn vilimidlertid
ikkefritaKosovosmyndigheterforet klartansvarforgjennomfmingenav
kravene,
Allemuligheter tia utvirkeengjensidigakseptabelfasningmellompartene
gjennomforhandlingeransesutŒmt Ett:erfornyede dr0.ftelser
Sikkerhetsrâdeter detgjennomfürtytterligere forhandlinger medpartene
under ledelseaven troikautgâttfradensâkaltekontaktgruppenfremmot
utgangenav2007.Situasjonenvistesegimidlertidfortsattfastlâst,ogdet er
heller ikkeoppnâddenighetiSikkerhetsrâdet.
3. Selvstenmghetsell"lldreringeirnav 17. februair 2008
Den 17.februar2008vedtokdenfolkevalgtekosovarskeforsamlingenen
selvstendighetserklreringforRepublikkenKosovo.Den byggeruttrykkelig
pâ alleforutsetningeriAhtisaari~planeno,gunderstreker ipunkt3atdennye
statenpâtarseg samtligeforpliktelseridenne.Sammenmedprinsippene i
Deneuropeiskemenneskerettighetskonvensjon skalplaneninngâi
grunnlagetforen ny grunnlov.ErklreringenuttrykkerKosovosbehovfor,og
çJnskeom,fortsattsrottefradetinternasjonalesamfunn.Dennyestatenskal
arbeideformedlemskapi EUogeuro~atlantisk integrasjon.
SelvstendighetserklŒringener oversendtblantannetden norskeregjering avden proklamertestatensstatsoverhodeogutenriksminister.Veden
anerkjennelseer detihenholdtil alminneligfolkerettgrunnlagfor â anse en
slikoversendelsemed detbilagtedokument,somenbindendeensidig
viljeserklrering.
EUsutenriksministreavgairâdsmete18.februar2008enfellesuttalelse,
derde understreket EUsfortsatteansvarogengasjementforstabilitetpâ
Vest-BaTh:a ogviljetilâspilleenledenderolleiâ st.yrkedenne.Erklrerlngen
frarâds:m0tetfremhevetat Kosovossituasjoner et srertilfellhensettfil
konffilrteni 1999ogdenetterf0lgendeintemasjonale· adniinistrasjonav
territoriet.
NATOs rad har,pâ grunnlagavresolusjon1244,erklrertatKFOR-styrkene
skalforbliiKosovomedmindreFNssikkerhetsrâdbestemmernoeannet.
Ogsâalliansenunderstreker sittansvarforsikkerhetentil Kosovos
befolkning,henmder srerlig deetniskeminoritetene.
Pr.25.mars 2008har 32stateranerkjentKosovosomselvstendigstat.Disse
orrtfatterblantannetsamtlige0Vrlgenordiskeland,ogflertalletavEUsog
NATOsmedlemsland.
4. Vurdering
Imange!avavtalegrunnlagmellompartene,ogimangelavvedtakavFNs
sikkerhetsrâdsomavklarersp0rsmâletomendeligestatus,reiser
situasjoneniKosovosrerskiltepolitiskeogfolkerettsligesp0rsmâl.
Kosovosselvstyremyndigheterbar overforNorgeogverdenfor 0Vrig
anmodetomanerkjennelsesomselvstendigstat.Franorsksideer detholdt
merkontaktmed Serbiaognrerstâendeland iEUogNordenvedr0rende
sp0rsmâlet omanerkjennelse.Norgeoosker âbevaredetgode.forholdetog
samarbeidetsomgjennommange ârer utvikletmedSerbia.
Regjeringenlegger vesentligvektpâbehovetforen snarligavklaringav
Kosovosstatus,ogfordeforutsetningersomliggertilgrunnforheskyttelse
avminoriteteneogden serbiskortodoksekirkeniKosovo.Viderevisestil àt
detetter behandlingiSikkerhetsrâdeterforetattfomyede,men resultatwse
fors0kpâ âoppnâenforhandlingsfosning mellomparteneellerenighet i
râdet.
Territoriethar siden 1999ikkevrertkontroUertellerstyrtavSerbfa.
Sikkerhetsrâdets resolusjon1244tar ikkestillingtilsp.0rsmâleom Kosovos
endeligefulkerettsligestatus.Dethadde vrert0nskeligomFNs
:>ikkt·rhctsrâha<ldekunnet 8amleseg omen l0sning, menfrava1re inntil videreavsliktvedtakfratarikkeFNsmedlemsstaterfraet ansvarfor â bidra
ti1fremmeav fred ogsikkerhet,demokratiskog0konomiskutvik:ling og
menneskerettighetene, innenforrammeneavresolusjon1244.
Deter ikkeanerkjennelsesomfolkerettsligskaperennystatsdannelse.
Andrestaters anerkjennelsebidrarderimotfilrettsligavklaring avforholdet
demimellom.Folkerettensregler itilknytningti1anerkjennelseavstater
forutsetter enpolitiskvurderingavfaktiskeforhold,knyttettilterrltorlum,
befolkning,organisertstyreogsistnevntesrettsligehandleevne iforholdti1
andrestater.DetleggesvektpâatdissekraveneforKosovosvedkomme:nde
er ansett oppfyltavenlangrekke stater.Disseinklùderersentralegiverland
og bidragsytere fideinternasjonalemilitaereogsivilenre:rvreriomrâdet,
somlengehar gittavgj0rendebidragtilopprettholdelseogutviklingav:fred
og sikkerhet iomrâdet.
Selven stat somennâikkeer opptattsommedlemavFN,er isamsvarmed
FN-paktensartikkel2nr. 6forpliktettil arespektereprinsippene iFN-pakten
avbetydningforinternasjonalfredogsikkerhet,ogmâfulge
Sikkerhetsrâdetsresolusjoner,inklusiveresolusjon1244.Dennedanner
grunnlagforfortsattintemasjonaltnrervrer,sâlengeSikkerhetsrâdetikke
vedtarnoe annet.Somleddisinhelhetsvurdering,legger regjerlngen
dessuten vesentligvektpâgarantienesomer avgîttiforbindelsemed
oversendelsenavselvstendighetserklreringen av17.februar2008.Disseet
formulertsomenfolkerettsligforpliktendeviljeserklrering hva angâr
konstitusjonelleogandregarantierforbeskyttelseavminoriteterogden
serbiskortodoksekirke iKosovo. Dettemâansesâinngâblant
forutsetningeneforenanerkjennelse.
I en helhetsvurderingleggesvideretilgrunn atsituasjonen i tilknytnintil
Kosovoutgj0ret srertilfelleK. onfliktei1999ogdet faktum atKosovosiden
dette har vrertunderintemasjonaladministrasjon,utgjm-helt sreregne
omstendigheter.
En anerkjennelseansesikke â medfureadministrativeeller0konomiske
konsekvenseravbetydning,selvmed en omlegging avdiplomatisk
representasjon iomrâdet.
Dettilrâs pâ dennebakgrunnatNorgenâ anerkjennerRepublikkenKosovo
somselvstendigstatogoppretterdiplomatiskeforbindelsermed
myndighetene i Pristina.Videretilrâsat Norge samtidigerklrereratbrevav
17.februar2008bilagtselvstendighetserklreringen avsammedato,anses
somen forpliktendefolkerettsligviljeserklreringmedhensyntil etterlevelse
av derved avgittegarantierforminoritetsrettigheter,den serbisk ortodokse
kirke iKosovoogfolkerettsligeregleromtalt ierklrerihgen. 728
Utenriksdepartementet
t ilrâ r:
1. NorgeanerkjennerrepublikkenKosovo somselvstendig stat
2. Vedmeddelelseomdette filmyndighetene i Kosovoe ,rklreresatderes
brevav17.februar2008bilagtsel-v-stendighetserklrerlna gvenamme dato,
ansessomenforpliktende folkerettsliviljeserkleerm gedhensyn til
etterlevelseavavgittegarantierfoi· minoritetsrettigheter b,eskyttelseavden
serbiskortodoksekirke iKosovo ogfolkerettsligeregleromt.ali t
erklrerlngen.
_.,. 0 0 /"_
,;;tcs.ts1mnister Je(t.;:"' •
'".DDj),)f,•-'•'"
f.,ngeûgr eeso{v..sjcr1t
.;v ,;>..~~ -;;i.~rs Ann.ex 2
NorwegianRoyalDecreeadoptedbythe Kingin Councilon28March2008
(Englishtranslation) MINISTRYOF FOREIGNAFFAIRS ROYALDECREE
Minister ofForeign.AffairsJonas Gahr Store
Dateofsubmission2:6Marck2008
Dateofadoption byKingin Council:8March2008
TranslatinromtheNorwegian
RECOGNITIONOFTIIB REPUBllC OF KOSOVOASAN
INDEPENDENTSTATE- SPECIFICATIONOF GROUNDS
1.Background
In197 4Kosovobecame an autonomousprovince withitheRepublicof
Serbia.Thisstatuswassped:fiedinthe constitutionofthe SocialistFederal
RepublicofYugoslaviaofthesame year.Theextensiveautonomyitthereby
acquiredwasbroughttoanendin 1989,underPresidentMilosevica ,ndthis
ledtoanincreaseinethnieunrest.TheconflîctsinYugoslaviaintheearly
1990sresultedinthe disintegratioftheSocialistFederalRepublicof
YugoslaviaI.n1998the situationinKosovwasputonthe agendaofthe UN
SecurityCouncilbecauseofwidespreadviolenceagainsttheKosovo
AlbanianpopulationFollowingNATO's interventionin1999;the Security
Counciladoptedresolution1244,whichrequiredaninternationalcivilian
presenceunderthe auspicesoftheUNandaninternationalmilitary
presenceunderNATOleadership(KFOR)W . hereasthelatterastoensure
securityandstability,the dvilianpresence,ledbyUNMIK, astohelp
duringatransitionalperiodto developcivilianstructuresapacityfora
multiethnîcKosovowithintheframeworkofthe FederalRepublicof
Yugoslavia.
Since1999the Serbianauthoritieshavenotexercisedauthorityorcontrol
overtheterritoryofKosovo,whichhasbeenentirelyunder international
administrationcombinedwithself-govemancearrangementspending
furtherclarificati. osovobas apopulationofabout2million,ofwhich
morethan 90%areethnieAlbanians.
In2005theissueofKosovo'sfinalstatuswasputonthe SecurityCouncil's
agenda,asrecommendedinthe reportproducedbythe Norwegian Kai Eide
onbehalfofthe UNSecretary-General .ormerFinnishPresidentMarlti
AhtisaariwasappointedasUNSpecialEnvoyforthistask.In February2007,
afterlong,ruitlessconsultationswiththeparties,hepresenteda.proposai
fora settlement,whlchisknownastheAhtisaariPlan.Itwasendorsedby
theUNSecretarywGenera aldsubmittedtothe UNSecurityCouncilon26 March2007(UNDoc.S/2007/168).The SecurityCouncilwas,however,
unableto reach agreementonthe plan.
2. The proposais and conditions set out in the Ahtisaari plan
The clarificationofKosôvo'sstatusisconsideredtobe offundamental
importanceforinternationalpeaceandsecurityinthe region. Continufug
uncertaintyabouttheterritory'sstatusisan obstacletoKosovo'sdemocratlc
development,politicalaccountability,economicrecoveryandreconciliation.
Continuinguncertaintywouldleadto furtherstagnation,polarisation
betweenethnie groups;andsocialandpo1iticau l nrest.
Inspiteofextensiveinternationalefforts,no alternativeto independencefor
the territoryhas beenidentifieifthe aimisto ensure apoliticallystableand
economicallyviableKosovo. Onlywithintheframeworkofanindependent
state candemocraticinstitutionsbe heldfullyaccountablefor good
governanceandthe effectiveprotectionofminoritiesinaccordancewith
constitutionalguarantees.Criticalareashere are minorityrights,
decentTalisation,theprotectionofthe SerbianOrthodoxChurchin Kosovo
andthe principlesofthe rule oflaw.Inthelight ofthe factthat Kosovo's
capacityto dealwithailofthese challengesremainsllmited,continued
internationalassistanceand supervision isconsidered necessary, forthe
time being through an internationalciviliaand militarypresence.
Notwithstancling thisinternationalinvolvement,Kosovo'sauthorities will
ultimatelybe responsible andaccountableforthe implementatlonofthe
Settlementproposai.
Itisconsidered thateverypossible meansof achieving anegotiated
settlementhas beenexhausted. Follo-win reneweddebate inthe Security
Council,further negotiationsbeiweenthe partieswereheldtowardsthe end
of2007under the auspicesofa troïkaoriginatingfromthe KosovoContact
Group.However,the situationremaineddeadlocked,and ithas notbeen
possibleto reach agreementin the SecurityCouncileither.
3. The decfaration of mdependence of 17 Februruy 2008
On17February2008the democraticallyelectedAssemblyofKosovo
adopted adeclarationofindependenceforthe RepublicofKosovo.lt is
explicitlybasedonallthe conditionsset outinthe AhtisaariPlan,and it
emphasisesinSection3that thenewstatefullyacceptsthe obligationsfor
Kosovocontainedinthe plan.The AhtisaariPlan,togetherwiththe
principlesset outinthe EuropeanConventionon HumanRights,willalso
formthe basisforanewconstitution.The declarationexpresses that Kosovo
needs and welcomesthe internationalcommunity'scontinuedsupport The newstatedeclaresitsintentiontotakeailstepsnecessarytofacilitate
membership inthe EuropeanUnion,aswellasEuro-Atlantic integration,
The declarationofindependencewascommunicatedto the Norwegian
Government,amongothers,bythe HeadofStateandPrimeMinister[corr.
intransl.]oftheproclaimedstate.Underpublicintemationallaw,there are
groundsforconsideringsucha communication, togetherwiththe enclosed
document,as abindingunilateraldeclarationinconnectionwiththe
recognitionofanewstate.
At a Councilmeetingon 18February2008,the EUForeignMinistersissued
ajointstatement,inwhlchtheyrecalledtheEuropean Union slongstanding
commitmenttothe stabilityofthe WesternBalkansregionandreiterated
the EuropeanUnion'sreadinesstoplayaleadingroleinstrengthening
stabilityinthe region.The statementunderlinedthatinviewofthe conflict
ofthe 1990sandthe extendedperiodofinternationa1 administration,Kosovo
constitutesasuigeneriscase.
Onthe basisofSecurityCouncilresolution1244,the NorthAtlanticCoundl
bas dedared that theKFORtroopsareto remain inKosovounlessotherwise
determinedbythe UNSecurityCouncil.TheAlliancealsounderlinesits
responsibilityforsafeguardingthe securityofthepeopleofKosovo,andof
theethnieminoritiesinparticular.
Asof25March2008,32stateshaverecognisedKosovoasanindependent
state.Theseincludealltheother NordiccountrlesandthemajorityofEU
and NATOmemberstates.
4. Assessment
Duetothelackofanagreementbetweenthepartiesandanydecisionbythe
UNSecurityCouncilclarifyingthe questionofKosovo'sfinalstatus,the
situationinKosovoraisesparticularpoliticalquestionsaswellas questions
ofinternationallaw.
Kosovo'sself~governmena tuthoritieshaverequestedNo:rway andthe rest of
the worldtorecogniseKosovoas anindependentstate.Norwaybas
remainedinclosecontactwithSerbia,like-mindedcountriesin the EUand
other Nordiccountriesregardingthe questionofrecognition.Norway
wishesto maintainitscloserelationsandcooperationwithSerbia,which
have been developed overmany years.
The Governmentconsidersthe needfor apromptclarification ofKosovo's
status andtheprovisionsregarclingtheprotectionofminoritiesandofthe
SerbianOrthodoxChurch inKosovotobe ofgreatimportance.Itshould alsobe notedthatfollowingthe SecurityCoundl'sdeliberations,renewed,
but fruitless,effortshavebeenundertakento reachanegoti:atedsolution
betweenthe partiesor agreementinthe SecurityCouncil.
Since1999the territoryhas notbeertcontrolledorgovemedbySerbia.
SecurityCouncilresolution1244doesnottake apositiononthe questionof
Kosovo'sfinalstatusunderinternationallaw.Itwouldhavebeenpreferable if
the SecurityCouncilhad beenableto agree onasolution,butthe current
lackofsuch adecisiondoesnotrelievethe UNmemberstatesof
responsibilityforpromotingpeaceand security,democratic cilldeconomic
developmentandrespectforhumanrights,in accordancewithSecurity
Coundl resolution1244.
Underintemational law,itisnotrecognitionthatcreates anewstate,
However,recognition by anothet stateprovidesalegalclarificationofthe
relationshipbetweenthe recognisingstateandthe state ithas recognised.
The provisionsofintemationallawconcerningtherecognitionofstates
requirethat anassessmentbe madeoffactualcircumstailcesas regards
territory,opulation,govemancestructure andthisgoverntnent'slegal
capacityinrelationto other states.Emphasis isgiventothe factthatalarge
number ofstatesconsiderthese requirementstobefulfilledinKosovo's
case.These încludekeydonorcountriesandcontrlbutorstothe
internationalmilitaryandcivilianpresenceinthe area,whichbasfor along
timeplayeda decisiveroleinmaintainingandpromotingpeaceandsecurity
in this area.
AccordingtoArticle2(6)ofthe UNCharter,evenastate that isnota
member ofthe UNhas the obligationto actinaccordance with the ptinciples
ofthe Chartersofar asmaybe necessary fotthemaintenanceof
internationalpeaceandsecurity,and itmust alsocomply with Security
Councllresolutions,includingreso1ution1244.Thisresolutionprovidesthe
basis for theinternationalpresence inKosovountilthe SecurityCouncil
decides otherwise.Inits overallassessment,the Govemmentplacesgreat
emphasis onthe guaranteesprovidedinconnection with the communication
ofthe declarationofindependenceof17 Febntary 2008.These guarantees
are formulatedas a declarationthatis bindingunderinterrtationallawas
regards constitutionalandother guaranteesrelatedtoprotectionof
minoritiesandofthe SerbianOrthodoxChurchinKosovo.These
guarantees mustbe consideredto be amongthe groundsfor recognition.
Tue overallassessment is alsobased onthe factthatthe situationin Kosovo
constitutesasuigeneriscase.The conflictin 1999andthefactthat Kosovo
has been under internationaladministrationeversinceare unique
circumstances.
AItisnot expectedthatrecognitionofKosovo willhaveanysignificant
administrativeoreconomicconsequences,evenwhenareorganisationof
Norway'sdiplomatierepresentation intheareaistakenintoaccoûnt.
Onthe basisoftheaboveitisrecommendedthatNorwayrecognisethé
RepublicofKosovoasanindependentstateandestablishdiplomatie
relationswiththe authoritiesinPristinaItisfurtherrecommendedthat
Norwaydeclarethattheletterof17February2008andthe enclosed
declarationofindependenceofthe samedatebeconsidereda asa
declarationthatisbindingunderinternationallawasregards thefulfilment
ofthe thereinprovidedguaranteesrelatedto communityrightsandthe
protectionofthe SerbianOrthodoxChurchinKosovoandthe rulesof
internationallawreferredto inthe declarationofindependence.
The MinistryofForeignAffairs
recommendsthat:
1.Norwayrecognisethe RepublicofKosovoasanindependentstate.
2.Whenthe authoritiesinKosovoareinformedofthis,adeclaratîonbe
madetotheeffectthat theirletterof17February2008andthe enclosed
declarationofindependenceofthe samedatebeconsidereda asa
declarationthatisbindingunder internationallawasregards thefulfihnent
ofthe thereinprovidedguaranteesrelatedtocommunityrights and the
protectionoftheSerbianOrthodox Church in Kosovoandthe rulesof
internationalawreferredto inthe dedarationofindependence. Anmex3
Letterdated28March2008fromthe NorwegianForeignMinistertothé
Presidenand the PrimeMinisterofKosovo ROYAL MINISTRY
Of FOREIGN AFFAIRS
Minister ofForeignAffairs
28March2008
YourExceUendes,
Ihavethe pleasuretorefer toyourletterof17February2008inwhich youinformedthe
GovernmentofNorwayofthe decisiontakenbytheAssemblyofKosovoto dedare
Kosovo's independence.
Norway takesdue noteofthelegalobligationsundertakenhyYourE:x:Œllencie sn
behalfofKosovovâth regardtothe ComprehensiveProposa}forthe KosovoStatus
Settlementpresented by the UnitedNationsSpecialEnvoy.These compriseassurances
foramulti-ethnic,dernocraticfutureforKosovoandprotectionofthe rights alof
Kosovo'scommunities, indudingthe protectionofthe SerbianOrthodoxChurcbin
Kosovo,andinternationalsupervisionofKosovo,as detailedin theComprehensive
Prnposa1.
Ihaveagainstthis background thehonourto informYourExcellendesthat the
GovernmentofNorwayasoftodayformallyrecogni.7..e tse RepublicofKosovoas a
sovereigu and independentState.
The GovernmentofNonvayrelies on the assurancesprovidedinyourletter of17
Februaty2008as aclearaffi..nnatiofinternationallegalobligations.
Inreplytothe readiness expressedby the Governmentofthe RepublicofKosovoto
establishdiplomatierelationsbetweentheRepublicofKosovoandthe Kingdomof
Norway,l canexpressfullagreement
H.E.FatmirSejdiu H.E.HashimThaçi
President PrimeMinister
ofthe RepublicofKosovo ofthe Republiof Kosovo IhavethehonourtoinformYourExcellencies that it isthe intentionofthe Government
ofNorwayto seek the agrémentoftheGovemmentofKosovoforAmbassador Cad
ShietzWibye,Skopje,tobe accreditedasnon-resîdentambassadorExtraordinary.and
Plenipotentiary ofNorwayto Kosovo.Norwayintendstoestablisharesldeiitembassy
in Pristina,tobeheadedbyMinisterCounsellorSverreJohan Kvale, inthe capacityof
Charge d'Affaires a.i.
!lookforwardtoagoodandconstructiveco-operation betweenourtw-o countries.
Ihavethehonourto conveytoYourExcellenciesthe assurancesofmyhighest
consideraton.
....,,...~...,,,._~,..,-·...,,,.,,,~ Page2
Consula Srec1ion
Written Statement of Norway