22.DEC.2009 15:01 0038138213183 s #2304 P.003 /018
I. Judge Koroma's Question
1.Judge Koroma asked the following question:
"It h~s been co~tended that international Iaw does not prohibit the
secess1o~ of a ten1tory from a sovereign State. Could participants in these
proceedmgs address the Court on the principles and rules of international
law~ if any, which, outside the colonial context, permit the secession of a
terr1toryfrom a sovereign State without the Iatter'sconsent?"
2. At the outset, we wish to recall that the question submitted by the
General Assembly in resolution 63/31 does not address the issue of the
conformity with international law of the secession of Kosovo from Serbia, or of
the recognitions of the Republic of Kosovo, which currently number 642, or
questions of statehood. The question addressed to Court is whether the
Declaration of Independence of 17 February 2008 was in conformity with
__i__t4;mcltiQna_Lla: w :.we made.clear in our oral contributi.onr~'[z,Jous-êt.e.s ..()
appeléàs répondrà e laseuleet unique question,trèspréciseet restreinte,delaconfomziti
de la déclarationd'indépendanc du 17février 2008avec le droitinternational,"3and
"[l.Jaquestionne porte sur rien d'autreetiln'y a aucunefàçon,ni aucunenécessité de,
luiaccorder un sensplus ((complet»":1
3. The narrowness of the question has been confinned by the overwhelming
majority of States participating in the proceedings. 5 Even Serbia, the sponsor of
1 UN Dossier No. 7,
2 Malawi was the most recent State to recognize Kosovo, on 16 December 2009. For the latest
information on recognitions, http:/ /www.ks-gov.net/mpj/?page""2,33.
1 CR 2009/25, 1 December 2009p.32,para,7 (Müller).
4 Ibidp. 33, para. 8.
s CR 2009/26, 2 December 2009p.26, para. 5-6 (Wasum-Rainer), CR 2009/27, 3 December 2009,
p. 6, para. 3 (Tichy), CR 2009/28, 4 December 2009, p. 23, para. 18-21 (Dimitroff}, CR 2009/29,
222.DEC.2009 15:01 0038138213183 s #2304 P.004 /018
resolution 63/3 of the General Assembly, has taken the same view.6 It is neither
necessary nor appropriate for the Court to widen the question submitted by
Serbia through the General Assembly and to respond to the - different _ issue of
secession in international law and its Iegality.
4. Nevertheless, in response to Judge Koroma's question, we recall that
general international law does not prohlbit secession of a territory from a State,
whether or not that State consents. This was explained by many States during
the written and oral proceedings.7
5. International law neither prohibits nor authorizes secession. 8 Many
States have taken the same view during the written and oral presentations in
these proceedings. 9 Secession is, as Professer Crawford has written, "neither
legal nor illegal in international law, but a legally neutral act the consequences of
which are regulated internationally."1o As Daillier, Forteau and Pellet say:
11
Quellequesoitsalégalitéauplan interne,lasécessioe nstunfait politiqueauregarddu
7 December2009, p.52, para. 10 (Metelko-Zgombié),ibid., p. 67 (Winkler); CR 2009/30, 8
December2009, p. 36, para. 35 (K.oh),CR2009/31,9 December2009, p. 9, para.4 (Belliard),
ibid,pp. 27-28,para. 3-6 (Prince Al Hussein),ibid.,p. 44, para. 10.
6 CR 2009/24,1December2009,p. 41,para. 17 (Djerié).
7 See,forexarnple,CR 2009/25, 1December2009,pp. 39-15,para.19-31 (Müller),CR 2009/26, 2
December 2009,pp. 26-27,para. 9 (Wasum-Rainer),CR2009/27,3 December 2009,pp. 11-12,
para. 19-21 (fichy), CR2009/30, 8 December 2009, pp. 29-30, para. 18-19 (Koh), CR
2009/31, 9 December 2009, p. 12, para. 12(Belliard),CR 2009/32, 10 Dêc@mbe2 T009,pp. 49-
52,para.11-22 (Crawford).
a CR 2009/25, 1 December 2009,p.44, para.30 (Müller).
9 See,for example, CR2009/26, 2 December2009,p. 12,para. 13 (Frowein), ibid.p. 20,para. 7
(Gill), CR 2009/28, 4 December 2009, p. 32 (d'Aspremont), CR 2009/31, 9 December 2009,
p. 15,para. 18(Belliard),ibid., p. 38, para,43 (PrinceAl Hussein).
inJ.Crawford, TheCreationofStatesin Inten-zationaLlaw,2 edn., OxfordUniversity Press, 2006,
p.390.
3 #2304 P.005 .'018
s
22 .DEC.2009 15:01 0038138213183
droitinternational,qui se contented'entire1· les conséquences lorsqu'ell eboiltità la
miseenplaced'autoritésétatiqueseffectives etstables"11
6. International law does recognize a right for a people who have been
derùed the effective exercise of the right to self-determination to choose freely
their polilical status, which may lead to the creation of a State through secession.
As the Supreme Court of Canada recognized in its opinion ReSecessionofQuebec
from Canada: "[T]he international law right to self-determination only generates,
at best, a right to external self-determination in situations of former colonies;
where a people is oppressed, as for example under foreign military occupation;
or where a definable group is denied meaningful access to government to pursue
their political, economic, social and cultural development. In all three situations,
the people in question are entitled to a right to external self-determination
because they have been denied the ability to exert internally their right to seJf
deternùnation."12
....
- ·-..
,..__,_. thü.s~ rn exceptiona lircumstances of persistent serious violations of
human rights and the prolonged,rigorousand oppressivedenial of the right to seJf
determination, a people can, at last resort, exercise their external right of self
determination.I-3 The people of Kosovo, as has been stated, were clearly entitled
under the specific circuwstances ta exercise their right to extemal self-
11P. Daillier, M. Forteau, A. Pellet,Droit intemational public (Ngyum Quoc Dinh), Bth edn.,
L.G.D.J.,Paris, 2(.Xpl,585.
12Reference reSecessianofQuebec, [1998}2 S.C.R. 217para.138.
13CR 2009/26, 2.December 2009, p. 21, para. 10 (Gill),ibid.p. 30, par_a._32(Wa.sum-Raine;~
CR 2009/30, 8 December 2009, PP· 56-57, para. 12 (Kaukoranta): _ _bid.. p. 26, para. _;i
(Koskenniemi), CR 2,m/32, 10December 2009, pp.8-10,para. 4-11 (L11nzaad).
4 s #2304 P.006 /018
22.DEC.2009 15:01 0038138213183
determination and have d
one so by choosing to establish a sovereign and
independent State.14
II. Judge Bennouna's Question
8. Judge Bennouna asked the following question:
~Est-:-ce_que les auteurs tie la déclaration unilatérale d'indépendance des
mstitutions provisoires d'administration autonome du Kosovo ont fait
auparavant campagne, lorsde l'élection de novembre 2007 de l'assembléedes
institutions provisoires d'administration autonome du Kosovo, sur la base
de leur volonté de déclarertmilatéralement, 1mefois élus,l'indépendance du
Kosovo, ou bien ont-ils, au moins, présenté à leurs électeurs la déclaration
unilatérale d'indépendance du Kosovo comme l'une des alternatives de leur
action future ?"
9. Elections for the Assembly of Kosovo, as well as for municipal assemblies
and mayors, took place on 17 November 2007 following a three-week election
campaignJ:_hatbeg~n 0_126_ October 2007... Itshould be noted that -the campaign -.
took place at a time when the Troïka talks were ongoing; in conducti.ng the
campaign the leaders of the main political parties were careful not to do anyt:h:ing
that might disrupt that process.
10. In its Written Comments of 14 July 2009,Serbia asserted that
"Kosovo status issues were deliberately removed from the electoral
campaign by agreement of the election partidpants" 1•
14CR 2009/25, 1 December 2009,pp.45-46, para. 33-34 (Müller). SeeKosovo'sFurtherWritten
Contribution,p. 76-86, para. 4.32-4.52; CR 2009/26, 2 December 2009, pp. 21-23,..para. 11-16
(Gill)ibid.p. 30, para. 33 (Wasum-Rainer), C2009/30, 8 December2009, p. .,8, par39
(Koh), CR 2009/31,9 December 2009, p. 37, para. (PrincAl Hussein).
is Serbia Written Comments, para. 40.
5 s #2304 P.007 !018
22.DEC.2009 15:01 0038138213183
Serbia goes on to daim, wrongly, that those dedaring independence could not
have been acting as a ''constituent body'' because they were selected in an
election from which independence was excluded as an issue. Serbia cites in
support an article that refers to a "Gentlemen's Agreement 11between the main
political parties dated 5 October 2007. In fact, that agreement simply aimed to
ensure an electoral process characterized by a spirit of tolerance and
understanding 1, in an environment in which it was amply evident that support
for independence among the people of Kosovo was overwhelming. Neither that
agreement, nor any other agreement, contained any reference to removing
Kosovo status issues from the campaign.
11. There can be no doubt that the overwhelming majority of the people of
Kosovo favoured independence. That support had been articulated by the people
themselves when they voted overwhelmingly for independence in a referendum
in 1991; it was maintained by Kosovo's representatives in the negotiations held
·-.__ring.the __ill.and Rambouillet negotiations; and-it was adhered to by Kosovo's -- ··-··-----··- ----·-----,··-·
representatives throughout the final status negotiations of 2005-2007. It will be
recalled in particular that, as reported by the Secretary-General, on 17 November
2005 the Kosovo Assembly unanimously adopted a resolution confirming the
will of the people of Kosovo for an independent and sovereign State of Kosovo;
the resolution provided a mandate to the delegation of Kosovo for the future
status process 1•
12. The Council of Europe Election Observation Mission reported that "the
political campaign was largely focused on employment, economy, education,
16A copyof the Gentlemen's Agreement isattached, in Albanian with an English translation.
11Report of the Secretary-General on the United Nations lnterim Administration Mission in
Kosovo, 25January 2006(S/2006/45, para. 4 [UN Dossier No. 75]).
6 s #2304 P.008 /018
22.DEC.2009 15:01 0038138213183
health and local issues rath th h .
, er an ont e issue of the future status of Kosovo"rn.
Nevertheless, in the elections of November 2007 those ,..,,,....., ~""-'-Ul.J.ior o 1ce
understood that the overwhelming preference of the people remained in faveur
of independence. Overwhelming popular support existed for seeking
independence at the ea 1· t · .
r ies opporturuty, which was reflected in the political
programmes of all the main parties, and is confirmed by contemporaneous
media reports. A BBC Albani.an report of 25 October 2007, for example, stated
that "the majority of political forces that competed in these elections has as a
priority in their programs independence and economic development''l9,
13. In his report covering the elections, the UN Secr.etary-General recorded
that:
"Throughout the election campaign, the members of the Kosovo Unity Team
remained engaged :inthe Troika-led negotiations on Kosovo's future status.
While the Unity Team continued to attend the Troika-led talks, its
representatives repeatedly stated that any further extension of talles would
__-·-·-··--be Jt._n.acc.ep.tablset,r-essing--that-a-date-fora declaration -of indeperrdencefo:r ·-·····
Kosovo, in coordination with the international community, should be
quickly set after 10 December. This has raised further expectati.ons in the
Kosovo Albanian community that Kosovo will be independent in the near
future. Public pressure on the new Government and Assembly to act swiftly
18Final Report, Council of Europe Election Observation Mission V in Kosovo (CEEOM V),
Strasbourg, 28 March 2008,para. 106.
19http://www.bbc.eo.uk/ albanian/ regionalnews/2007 /10/071025_hyseni_elections.shtmThe
German station Deutsd11!Welle noted in its report of 16 November 2007: "The e!ection
campaign in Kosovo has been dominated by the subject of province's future statu.s.With a trio
of diplomatie envoys from the European Union, thenited States and Russia facing a Dec. 10
deadline tocame up with a plan for the province, the Kosovar Albanian parties have become
increasingly vocal in their calls for independence." AofAmerica report of 17 November
2007 said:"The people of Kosovo are voting Saturday for a new local govemment. Ali the
main political parties in the Albanian-majority province have pledged to gain independence
from Serbia ...."
7 s #2304 P.009 /018
22.DEC.2009 15:02 0038138213183
ta declare independence folloWi th d f th .
high."20 ng e en ° e penod of engagement is
14 -The support of the people for independence as declared by those who
were elected in 2007, was clear, among other things, from the popular
celebrations on the day the Declaration was issued; far from being unexpected,
the event was fully accepted and endorsed by the people. As the United Nations
Secretary-General informed the Security Council the next day, on 18 February
2008:
"In much of Kosovo, there have been peaceful celebrations by tens of
thousands welcoming the declaration."21
III. Judge Cançado Trindade's Question
15. Judge Cançado Trindade asked the following question:
····•·r--,-~, •_.,.,'".•·· ---·-··.._,.,-e:·---·__,_''"····::---•":•,-•..--.··-···-·-·· ·.-...-·-···
~·,··-•·
"United Nations Security Council resolution 1244 (1999) refers, in its
paragraph 11 (a), to "substantial autonomy and self-government in
Kosovo", taldng full account of the Rambouillet Accords. In your
understanding, what is the meaning of this renvoi to the Rambouillet
Accords? Does it have a bearing on the issues of self-determination and/or
secession? If so, what would be the prerequisites of a people's eligibility
into statehood, in the framework of the legal régi.me set up by Security
Council resolution 1244 (1999)?And what. are the factual preconditions for
the configurations of a 'people', and of its eligibility hl.ta statehood, under
general international law?"
16. Paragraph 11 of Security Council resolution 1244 (1999) contains two
references to the Rambouillet accords. The reference in paragraph 11 (a) concerns the
20 Report of the Secretary•General on the United Nations Interim Adminhtration in Kosovo,
S/2007/768 of3January 2008,para. 8 [UNDossier No. 84].
21 Security Council, provisional verbatim record, sixty-third year, 5839 meeting, 18 February
2008(S/PV.5839),p. 2 [Dossier No. 119].
822.DEC.2009 15:02 0038138213183 s #2304 P.010 /018
international civil presence's responsibility to help establish self-governing institinions
Kosovo during the interim period, pending a final senlement, whereas the reference in
paragraph 11 (e) concems that presence's responsibility to facilitate a political process to
determine Kosovo's final status.
17. In paragraph 11 (a) of resolution 1244 (1999), the Security CoW1cil
decided that the main responsibilities of the international civilian presence in
Kosovo (authorized by paragraph 10) included:
11
(a) Promoting the establishment, pending a final settlement, of substantial
autonomy and self-government in Kosovo, taking full account of annex 2 and
of the Rambouillet accords (S/1999/MS)".
The issuance of the Declaration of Independence on 17 February 2008 by the
democratically-elected representatives of the people of Kosovo did not
contravene the international civilian presence' s responsibilities, including the
respànsibility in paragraph 11 (a). As such, the issuance of the Declaration was
·inaccordancewith ·resolution-1244,including paragraph 11 (a).-·- ·
18. In paragraph 11(a), the Council sought to promote the establishment of
substantial autonomy and self-government in Kosovo, prior to a final settlement,
"taking full account of ... the Rambouillet accords". Many of the provisions of
the Rambouillet Interim Agreement concerned the creation of self-goveming ·
institutions in Kosovo, protected from the arbitrary political will of the
authorities in Belgrade, for an interim period. Thus, the final version of the
Rambouillet Interim Agreement conta.ined extensive provisions on police and
civil public security in Kosovo (Chapter 2), the conduct and supervision of
Kosovo elections (Chapter 3), Kosovo's economic reconstruction and
development (Chapter 4), and so on 2• In the course of the UN Mission in
l1Interim Agreement for Peace and Self-Government in Kosovo, 23 February 1999,reproduced
inS/1999/648 [Dossier No. 30).
9 22.DEC.2009 15:02 003813B2131B3 .S #2304 P.011 /018
Kosovo (UNMIK)'s activities during the period inunediately coll ,.•· 1 .
1244' d · l• Ovvtng reso Ution
s a option, the Rambouillet accords provided guidance to UNMIK and the
Secretary-Genera] for creating Kosovo' s interim governi.ng institutions and
progressively transferring authority to them. For example, the Secretary-General
advised in June 2000 that UNMIK's relationshlp with the people af Kosovo in
this period should be built upon the principles of the Rambouillet accords,
especially in establishing protections for existing and displaced Kosovo
residents. 23
19. This renvoi to the Rambouillet accords expressed the Council' s desi:re in
resolution 1244 for an extensive form of seli-governance in Kosovo, prior to
settlement of the final status, ·notwithstanding Belgrade' s rejection of the
Rambouillet accords. By doing so, the Council allowed for the conditions to
emerge in Kosovo during 1999-2008in which the people of Kosovo could choose
independence, having developed the capacity for legislative, executive, and
...... .,. ··-~..........__ .......______,_.,_...,···--··--··········-··'· ... . .....s,rl.png,. ........... .
20. Paragraph 11 (e) of resolution 1244 also refers to the Rambouillet
accords in the course of placing responsibility upon the international civilian
presence to facilitate "a political process designed ta determine Kosovo's future
status, taking into account the Rambouillet accords". 24 Here the reference to the
Rambouillet accords should be understood as directed in particular at Chapter 8,
Article I, paragraph 3 of the Rambouillet Interim Agreement, which stated that
"a final settlement for Kosovo" would be based upon various factors, the first of
which was "the will of the people", and omitted any language calling for a
l'.Report of the Secretary-General on the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in
Kosovo, 6 June 2000,S/2000/538, p. 22,para. 132 [Dossier No. 44}.
24 Unlike paragraph 11(a),thisprovision containsno referenceto Annex 2, ~vhichconcem~d ~e
interim period, including the clause relating to "principles of sovere1gnty and tt?mtonal
integrity of the Pederal Republic Yugoslavia ...".
1022.DEC.2009 15:02 0038138213183 s #2304 P.012 /018
Belgrade-Pristina agreement (as had been sought by Belgrade) or for a further
Security Council resolution25.
21. This renvoito the Rambouillet expressed the Council's desire for a final
status process that would not be grounded upon Serbia's consent to secession,
and that could consist of independence ilthat proved ta be the will of the people
of Kosovo.
22. As explained in our written and oral pleadings, the Court may answer
the question by finding that the Dedaration of Independence did not violate
either resolution 1244or general international law, without reacrung the issue of
whether the people of Kosovo exercised their right to seJi-deter:m.ination in
February 2008. Ifthe Court reaches the latter issue, however, the references to
the "Rambouillet accords" contained within paragraph 11 of resolution 1244
reinforce the facts that the people of Kosovo are a "people" within the meaning
of the right of self-determination, and that they were exposed to conditions that
më!i fiîf-··aEillty,--u-·tpeeopie ·sac ·hos et,·exerc -ihs· right .throigh
independence, even without Belgrade' s consent 26. The provisio11Sof resolution
1244reflect the circumstances that had arisen by June 1999. As recogrùzed by the
Security Council, th.ose conditions included "a grave humanitarian situation in
Kosovo", one that involved "acts of violence against the Kosovo population" and
that had resulted in a "threat ta international peace and security".27 Further, the
Council determined that that there was à need to "provide for the safe and free
return of all refugees and displaced persons to their homes", and that such
28
individuals had a right to return ta their homes in safety • In order to address
lSCR 2009/25, pp.52-56, paras. 27-41 (Murphy)Kosovo Further Written Contribution,
paras. 5.05-5.18.
26See Kosovo Further Written Contribution, paras. 4.45-4.48.
27Security Council resolution 1244(1999),10June 1999,pmbl. [UN Dossier No. 34].
2aIbid.
11 #2304 P.013 .'018
22.DEC.2009 15:02 0038138213183 s
those conditions, and to ensure an enduring and peacefu1 resolution of the crisis,
the Council - invoking Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter - ordered the
withdrawal of Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (FRY) and Serbian military and
police forces from Kosovo, provided for the deployment of international civilian
and military presences, and mandated them to help foster self-governance .in
Kosovo. As Professor Tomuschat concluded, "Security Council Resolution 1244
can be deemed to constitute the first formalized decision of the international
community recognizing that a human conununity within a sovereign State may
under specific circumstances enjoy a right of self-determination"W.
23. Further, resolution 1244 envisaged that a political process designed ta
determine Kosovo's final status would occur, in which the will of the people was
a central element. The Security Council launched that process in2005 with the
appointment of President Ahtisaari, who conducted extensive negotiations, and
then concluded that further efforts were futile and that independence was the
only via~~~ opti~_:tfor a~dr~ssiI_!g_ ari unst:able sitµation. Once that politicaL
process was exhausted, as occurred by the end of 2007 at the latest, the
conditions arase in which the people of Kosovo could express the:ir will, in
accordance with resolution 1244. The Declaration of Independence was the
expression of that will.
24. Finally, for a discussion of the meaning of "people" in the context of the
right of self-determination under general international law, and its application to
the people of Kosovo, the Court may wish ta refer to Kosovo's Written
Contribution, paragraph 8.40, and Kosovo's Further Written Contribution,
paragraphs 4.42 to 4.46, as well as its oral presentation, CR2009/25, pages 45-46,
29Ch. Tomuschat, "Secession and self-determination'', in M. G. KohSecessio1I:ternational
LawPerspectives(2006)p.34.
12 #2304 P.014 !018
.DEC.2009 15:02 0038138213183 s
22
and to the written and oral presentations of the m.any UN Member States that
addressed the issue of self-determination.
I hereby certify that the document annexed to this letter isa true copy and
conforms to the original document and that the English translation provided is
accurate.
Accept, Sir, the assurances of my highest consideration.
-
Mi.nisterof Forei Affoirs
Representative of theR u lie of Kosovo before
the International ourt of Justice
1322.DEC.2009 15:02 0038138213183 s #2304 P.015 !018
ANNEX
GENTLEMEN'SAGREEMENT
Albanian Original
Duke qenë të vendosur thellë për të marrë pjesë në zgjedhjet parlamentare
dhe lokale në Kosovë të17nëntorit 2007;
Duke shprehur gatishmërinë tonë që të kontribuojmë që ky proces të
zhvillohet nè! pajtueshmëri me standardet më të larta demokratike
ndër kombëtare;
.puke respektua.~. në tërësi dis_po~itat në fuqi të Kosovës lidhur me
mbajtjen dhe organizi.min e zgjedhjeve;
Ne, përfaqësuesit e partive politike, koalicioneve dhe iniciativave qytetare, të
çertifikuar nga KQZ i Kosovës për të marrë pjesë në këto zgjedhje, duke iu
përgjigjur thirtjes së Presidentit të Kosovës, në ujdi të plotë nënshkruajmë
solemnisht këtë:
DEKLARATË
me të cilën zotohemi se:
Gjatë peridhës përgatitore parazgjedhore, do të bëjmë çmos për të
ndihmuar në përgatitjen sa më të m.irë tëprocesit të zgjedhjeve;
14 s #2304 P.016 /018
22.DEC.2009 15:03 0038138213183
Do të organizojmë fushatën tonë zgjedhore veç e veç për të prezentuar
projektet tona politike para elektoratit nêmënyrë të dinjitetshme në
përputhje me dispozitat në fuqi;
Do të anga.zhohemi që procesi zgjedhor të rtjedhë në frymën e tolerancës e
të mirëkuptimit. Nuk do të përdorim gjuhë dhe veprime që thyejne dhe
janë në kundèrshtim me etikën e kodit zgjedhor dhe të dispozitave ligjore
në fuqi;
Përfaqësuesit tanë në komisionet zgjedhore, ekipet vëzhguese dhe
mekanizmat tjerë që i parasheh ligji, pokështu do të respektojnë në tërësi
të gjitha dispozitat ligjore që kanë të bëjnême këtë proces zgjedhor.
Me këtë rast u bëjmë thirrje të gjithë qytetarëve të Kosovës me të drejtë vote
që të marrin pjese aktive në procesin zgjedhor, ditën e votimit dhe të votojnë
të preferuarit e tyre.
Thêrrasimpokështu të gjitha mjetet e komunikimit publik, të shkru.ara dhe
elektronike, që të angazhohen për prezentim gjithëpërfshirës dhe të
paanshèm W gjithë këtij procesi, duke iu përmbajtur kritereve profesionale,
etikës gazetareske dhe dispozitave ligjore në fuqi.
Prishtinë, 5.10.2007
1522.DEC.2009 15:03 0038138213183 s #2304 P.017 !018
English Translation
Strongly determined to participate in the Kosovo Parliamentary and Local
Elections of 17 November 2007;
Expressing our read.iness to contribute to the conduct of the process in
accordance with the hlghest democratic international standards;
Respecting fully the applicable provisions in Kosovo on the conduct and
organization of elections;
We, the reptesentatives of political parties, coalitions and citizens' initiatives
certified by the CEC of Kosovo to participa te in these elections, responding to the
cal! of the President of Kosovo, in full agreement solemnly sign the following:
DECLARATION
whereby we pledge that:
During the preparatory pre-electoral period, we will do our utmost to
help the best preparation of the electoral process;
We will organize our electoral campaigns separately to present our
political projects to the electorate in a dignifying manner in accordance
with the applicable provisions;
16 s #2301 P.018 /018
22.DEC.2009 15:03 0038138213183
We will be com.mitted that the electoral process flows in the spirit of
tolerance and understanding. We will not use language and actions in
violation, or contrary to the ethics of the Elections Code and applicable
legal provisions;
Our representatives to the electoral committees, observation teams and
other mechanisms foreseen by the law will also completely respect all
legal provisions related to this electoral process.
On this occasion, we call upon ail citizens of Kosovo eligible to vote, to
partidpate actively in the electoral process in Election Day and vote for their
preferred candidates.
We also call upon all means of public communication, print or electronic, to
engage in a comprehensive and impartial presentation of the process,
.complying with professional criteria, ethics ofjournalism and applicable legal
provisions.
Prishtinë/Pristina,5.10.2007
17
Reply of the authors of the Unilateral Declaration of Independence to questions
posed by Judges Koroma, Bennouna and Cançado Trindade
at the close of the oral proceedings