INTERNATIONAL COURT OF JUSTICE
Peace Palace, Carnegieplein 2, 2517 KJ The Hague, Netherlands
Tel.: +31 (0)70 302 2323 Fax: +31 (0)70 364 9928
Website: www.icj-cij.org
Press Release
Unofficial
No. 2009/17
21 April 2009
Accordance with International Law of the Unilateral Declaration of Independence
by the Provisional Institutions of Self-Government of Kosovo
(Request for Advisory Opinion)
Filing of written statements and of a written contribution
THE HAGUE, 21April 2009. Thirty-five Memb er States of the United Nations have filed
written statements within the time-limit fixed bythe International Court of Justice (ICJ) on the
question of the Accordance with International Law of the Unilateral Declaration of Independence
by the Provisional Institutions of Self-Government of Kosovo (request for advisory opinion). The
authors of the unilateral declaration of inde pendence by the Provisional Institutions of
Self-Government of Kosovo have filed a written contribution within the same time-limit.
By an Order of 17 October 2008, the Court had fixed 17 April 2009 as the time-limit within
which written statements on the question could be presented to it (see Press Release No. 2008/36).
Written statements were filed in the Registry by the following Member States of the United
Nations (in order of receipt): the Czech Republic , France, Cyprus, China, Switzerland, Romania,
Albania, Austria, Egypt, Germany, Slovakia, the Russian Federation, Finland, Poland,
Luxembourg, the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, th e United Kingdom, the United States of America,
Serbia, Spain, the Islamic Republic of Iran, Est onia, Norway, the Netherlands, Slovenia, Latvia,
Japan, Brazil, Ireland, Denmark, Argentina, Azerbaijan, Maldives, Sierra Leone and Bolivia.
The texts of the written statements and of the written contribution are confidential at this
stage of the proceedings.
It is recalled that, in its Order of 17 Octobe r 2008, the Court also fixed 17July 2009 as the
time-limit within which States and organizations having presented written statements may submit
written comments on the other statements pursuant to Article 66, paragraph 4, of the Statute. The
authors of the unilateral declaration of inde pendence by the Provisional Institutions of
Self-Government of Kosovo may file a written contribution containing their comments on the other
statements within the same time-limit.
The subsequent procedure was reserved for further decision. - 2 -
History of the proceedings
On 8October2008, the General Assembly of the United Nations adopted resolution63/3
(A/63/L.2) in which, referring to Article65 of th e Statute of the Court, it requested the Court to
render an advisory opinion on the following question:
“Is the unilateral declaration of independence by the Provisional Institutions of
Self-Government of Kosovo in accordance with international law?”
Certified true copies of the English and French texts of that resolution were transmitted to
the Court under cover of a letter from the Secr etary-General of the United Nations dated
9October2008. Subsequently, the Secretary-Gene ral submitted to the Court a dossier containing
all documents likely to throw light upon the questi on, pursuant to Article65, paragraph2, of the
Statute. This dossier is available on the Court’s website (www.icj-cij.org).
By letters dated 10October2008, the Registrar gave notice of the request for an advisory
opinion to all States entitled to appear before the C ourt, pursuant to Article 66, paragraph 1, of the
Statute.
By an Order dated 17 October 2008, the Cour t decided that “the United Nations and its
Member States are considered likely to be able to furnish information on the question submitted to
the Court for an advisory opinion” and fixed the time-limits for them to do so. The Court also
decided that “taking account of the fact that th e unilateral declaration of independence by the
Provisional Institutions of Self Government of Ko sovo of 17February2008 is the subject of the
question submitted to the Court for an advisory opi nion, the authors of the above declaration are
considered likely to be able to furnish informa tion on the question”, and has therefore invited them
“to make written contributions to the Court within the above time-limits”.
___________
Information Department:
Messrs. Boris Heim and Maxime Schouppe, Information Officers (+31 (0)70 302 2337)
Ms Joanne Moore, Associate Information Officer (+31 (0)70 302 2394)
Mrs. Barbara Dalsbaek, Administrative Assistant (+31 (0)70 302 2396)
Accordance with International Law of the Unilateral Declaration of Independence by the Provisional Institutions of Self-Government of Kosovo (Request for Advisory Opinion) - Filing of written statements and of a written contribution