THE HAGUE 1-11 Dec 2009 Group challenges Kosovo statehood

The International Court of Justice will hear a challenge to the legality of Kosovo's declaration of independence. Serbia and Russia will join three European Union states -- Spain, Romania and Cyprus -- to give anti-Kosovo depositions during the hearings before the United Nations' top legal body. The challenge was brought by Serbia, which continues to fight against the secession of its former province. Slovakia and Greece also do not recognize Kosovo's independence.

Some 60 United Nations members recognize the sovereignty of Kosovo, which declared its independence unilaterally on 27 Feb 2008.

Ethnic Albanians constitute 90 per cent of the 2 million of its people. According to UPI, a European Union report in October criticized Serbia for creating parallel structures in Serb-controlled parts of Kosovo in an attempt to undermine Pristina's authority.

The United Nations verdict will be advisory and won't roll back the clock on statehood for Kosovo, which is seeking a seat in the United Nations. Between NATO's intervention in 1999 and the declaration of independence, it was under international trusteeship. Oct/09

RELATED READING:

EU: Kosovo's statehood 'irreversible' (UPI 16 Oct 2009)
http://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2009/10/16/EU-Kosovos-statehood-irreversible/UPI-45121255742917/

Kosovo-EU relations (European Commission)
http://ec.europa.eu/enlargement/potential-candidates/kosovo/relation/index_en.htm