Kosovo independence doesn't violate international law: U.N. court

THE HAGUE, July 22 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations' hightest court said in a non-binding opinion Thursday that the 2008 Kosovo independence declaration does not violate general international law.

While delivering the non-binding advisory opinion, International Court of Justice (ICJ) President Hisashi Owada said: "The declaration of Feb. 17, 2008 did not violate general international law."

Owada said that international law contains no prohibition on declarations of independence.

Serbian Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremic, who was present in the court, said Thursday that his country would "never, under any circumstances" recognize a self-proclaimed, independent Kosovo. [ He also said difficult days are ahead for his country, and it is crucially important to keep the entire territory of the province of Kosovo peaceful and stable.

Kosovo, an autonomous Serbian province, unilaterally declared independence from Serbia two years ago and remains under U.N. administration.

In October 2008, Serbia demanded that the U.N. General Assembly ask the ICJ to issue an opinion on the legality of Kosovo's break from Serbia.

Ahead of the ruling, Jeremic warned that all of the world's borders would be at risk if the ICJ supported Kosovo's "secession".

The United States swiftly expressed support to the U.N. court opinion that the Kosovo independence declaration does not violate the general international law.

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