09 Oct 50 States Now Recognize Kosovo’s Independence
Serbia might want the ICJ to opine on the legality of Kosovo’s independence, but it seems that the horse is already out of the barn. Even Macedonia and Montenegro have now recognized Kosovo, the latter particularly irking the Serbian government:
Montenegro’s announcement sparked outrage in Belgrade, which along with key ally Russia has been vehemently opposing the split. Serbia in a knee-jerk reaction said it was expelling the Montenegrin envoy.
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“The government unanimously decided to recognise the republic of Kosovo,” Montenegrin Foreign Minister Milan Rocen said in Podgorica, adding that his country would establish full diplomatic relations with neighbouring Kosovo.
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Serbian Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremic said Belgrade had “decided to inform Podgorica that the presence of its official representative in Belgrade is not welcome any more.”
Jeremic had earlier warned that such a decision by Montenegro would be a “stab in the back” for Serbia, as the two were tied up in a loose federation until a 2006 referendum that gave Podgorica independence.
To date, Kosovo’s independence has been recognized by 50 states, beginning with Afghanistan and Costa Rica and including nearly all of the EU and NATO. That’s 48 more than the two states that have recognized the independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia — Russia and Nicaragua.
… and less than 90-something states recognizing the State of Palestine.
However, these acts of recognition, as well as Serbian reaction, should be viewed in the light of somewhat complicated inter-state relations on Balkans, which are, judging by non-Balkans standards, pretty much irrational.
As for the ICJ, I would like to hear more opinions about this… Personally, I don’t think it will change anything, and I would be happy to elaborate on that.
But that alone, as well as the recognition by Montenegro and FYRM, does not make Kosovo a state, whatever me or anybody else thinks about that. That’s just reality – it may not be a part of Serbia anymore, but it is not a state on its own for sure.
Dragutin, So, in your professional opinion an entity that has its independent government, parliament and judiciary, in addition to being governed by its distinct laws and having diplomatic relations with 50 states is not a state? Unless you are making a political statement, I am not quite sure what the basis for your assessment is. While it is true that the State of Palestine is recognized by over 100, it is misleading to make numerical comparisons between the State of Palestine and Kosovo when it comes to the recognition of their statehood. As you know very well the 50 states that recognized Kosovo make up 70.24% of the global GDP. Moreover, besides being recognized by 22 out of 26 and 27 member states of NATO and EU, respectively, Kosovo is recognized by 7 out of 8 member states of G8. In a nutshell, Kosovo is no State of Palestine, regardless of the merits of the latter’s claim for statehood. Last but not least, I wonder whether the ultimate aim of the ICJ resolution initiated by the pro-western leadership of Serbia is aimed at paving the way for Serbia to ultimately recognize Kosovo as part of its EU integration — that is of course when… Read more »
Dastid, Firs of all, I don’t know have you ever been on Kosovo. While it has all that you mentioned, its authority is weak, almost none, escpecially in parts where Serbs and Gora people live. And I don’t get your point about the numbers. If numbers don’t matter at all, why do you count them? And if numbers matter, ireelevant of their amount and/or substance, then Southern Ossetia is a state too. And if amount and/or substance matters, then it’s very discriminating and contrary to the essence of international law – sovereign equality (especially when it comes to recognition). And a political statement, too. As for the ICJ opinion – I didn’t ask for it, so I’m not really competent to answer your question. I don’t support that move, not because of the reason you mentioned (a political statement par excellance, too), but because I think it cannot change anything. And I believe that the way the question is formulated – i.e. was the act of declaration itslef illegal – is very dubious, and because of that ICJ opinion will be such that everybody could interpret it in a way that suits him. My point is simple – Kosovo cannot be… Read more »