Representatives of Bulgaria and Burundi have claimed yesterday before the International Court of Justice that Kosmet had not violated the international law by unilaterally proclaiming independence.

Legal representative of Bulgaria Zlatko Dimitrov has said that the international law does not prohibit the declarations of independence or secession, and he rejected the argument of several other countries that in case of Kosmet it was in collision with UN Security Council Resolution 1244.

Representatives of Burundi have stated that the opinion of the court regarding the legitimacy of the unilateral independence will not have any effect, because Kosmet exists as a fact, as they have explained.

On the fourth days of debate on the legitimacy of the unilateral Kosmet independence, Bolivia and Brazil have assessed before the International Court of Justice that this declaration represent a violation of the international law.

Both countries have stressed that Kosmet did not have the right to self-determination and secession, since according to the international law it can only be done by former colonies or entities that were under occupation.

Bolivian Ambassador Roberto Sarmiento and Brazilian Ambassador Jose Medeiros have warned that the illegitimate unilateral proclamation of independence in Kosmet could have far-reaching consequences for the international relations.

While insisting on the importance of the principle of territorial integrity and sovereignty being the key for international order, representatives of Bolivia and Brazil have pointed out that UN Resolution 1244 was protecting the integrity of then FR Yugoslavia, i.e. today’s Serbia.

Namely, the International Court of Justice will hear the arguments of 28 countries, prior to making its decision and stating opinion on the question “is the unilaterally proclaimed independence by the interim Kosmet authorities in line with the international law”, as it was passed in October last year by the UN General Assembly, at the initiative of Serbia.