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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Kosovo secession case at UN court | Kosovo secession case at UN court |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| The International Court of Justice is set to begin hearings deliberating on the legality of Kosovo's declaration of independence from Serbia. | |
| It is the first time the UN's highest court has examined if a secession complies with international law. | It is the first time the UN's highest court has examined if a secession complies with international law. |
| Although 63 countries have recognised Kosovo's independence, Serbia - which requested the case - refuses to do so. | Although 63 countries have recognised Kosovo's independence, Serbia - which requested the case - refuses to do so. |
| A verdict in the case, which will not be legally binding, is not expected for several months. | A verdict in the case, which will not be legally binding, is not expected for several months. |
| Legal precedent | Legal precedent |
| Beginning on Tuesday, the hearings at the court, based at The Hague in the Netherlands, are expected to run until 11 December. | Beginning on Tuesday, the hearings at the court, based at The Hague in the Netherlands, are expected to run until 11 December. |
| Kosovo unilaterally declared independence from Serbia in February 2008. | Kosovo unilaterally declared independence from Serbia in February 2008. |
| We are going to do everything that is possible to defend our legitimate national interests Boris TadicSerbian president Serbia takes fight to court | We are going to do everything that is possible to defend our legitimate national interests Boris TadicSerbian president Serbia takes fight to court |
| But the move was not sanctioned by a UN Security Council resolution because of opposition from Russia and China. | But the move was not sanctioned by a UN Security Council resolution because of opposition from Russia and China. |
| Serbia's President Boris Tadic told the BBC he hoped the hearing would lead to fresh negotiations with Kosovo. | Serbia's President Boris Tadic told the BBC he hoped the hearing would lead to fresh negotiations with Kosovo. |
| "We are going to do everything that is possible to defend our legitimate national interests. | "We are going to do everything that is possible to defend our legitimate national interests. |
| "But it doesn't mean that we are going to create problems. We are not a part of problems anymore, we are part of the solution." | "But it doesn't mean that we are going to create problems. We are not a part of problems anymore, we are part of the solution." |
| The BBC's Belgrade correspondent, Mark Lowen, says part of the problem is that Kosovo believes there is nothing to talk about. | The BBC's Belgrade correspondent, Mark Lowen, says part of the problem is that Kosovo believes there is nothing to talk about. |
| President Tadic said this was part of Serbia's new peaceful approach to Kosovo - a decade after the war between the two that killed more than 10,000. | President Tadic said this was part of Serbia's new peaceful approach to Kosovo - a decade after the war between the two that killed more than 10,000. |
| Our correspondent says the case will be closely watched by countries facing similar challenges to their authority. | Our correspondent says the case will be closely watched by countries facing similar challenges to their authority. |
| They will want to see if this case sets a legal precedent. | They will want to see if this case sets a legal precedent. |
| On the eve of the court case, Kosovo's President Fatmir Sejdiu told the Associated Press news agency that Kosovo had "invincible" arguments for its case. | On the eve of the court case, Kosovo's President Fatmir Sejdiu told the Associated Press news agency that Kosovo had "invincible" arguments for its case. |