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
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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.
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POSICION DE LA RePUBUCA BOLIVAIUANA DE VENEZUELA
SOBRE LA DECLARACION UNilAtERAL DE INDEPENDENCIA DE KOSOVO,
ACTO VlOLATORIO DEL DERECHO INTERNACIONAL
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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
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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
Written Statement of Venezuela