VOA标准英语2008年-Serbia Requests ICJ Opinion on Legality of Koso

Serbia is seeking the International Court of Justice's (ICJ) opinion on the legality of Kosovo's independence and says it will abide¹ by its decision. Kosovo unilaterally declared its independence from Serbia in February, but Belgrade has refused to recognize its sovereignty. From United Nation's headquarters in New York, VOA's Margaret Besheer has more.
　
Vuk Jeremic (file photo)

Serbian Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremic said Friday that he has formally asked the U.N. General Assembly to support his government's request to ask the International Court of Justice to issue an advisory² opinion on the legality of Kosovo's unilateral declaration of independence.

"Today I submitted this demand," he said. "The General Assembly is going to consider it this coming autumn. I hope that the majority of member states of the U.N. will support Serbia's request."

Serbia must go through the U.N. General Assembly, because only organs of the U.N. can ask the court for advisory opinions.

A simple majority of the General Assembly's 192 member states is required to approve the request for the court's opinion. The General Assembly would then make the request, not Serbia.

Jeremic said Serbia strongly believes Kosovo's declaration violated numerous international laws and mechanisms³.
"Serbia has asked for the advisory opinion of the ICJ, because Serbia strongly believes international law was violated, that the Security Council Resolution 1244 was violated, that the U.N. Charter was violated, that the Helsinki Final Act was violated by Kosovo's unilateral declaration of independence," he said.

The ICJ, which is based at The Hague, is the principle judicial⁴ organ of the United Nations. It settles legal disputes between states and gives advisory opinions on legal matters. Its judgments⁵ are legally binding⁶, but its advisory opinions - what Serbia has asked for - are not.

However, Jeremic said his country would respect the court's decision.

"Since we are the party that is seeking the ICJ's opinion, we are saying we believe in the ICJ," he said. "We believe in international institutions. We are going to respect the ruling of international institutions."

If the court says Kosovo violated international law, it will strengthen Serbia's assertion that Kosovo's move to independence was illegal.

Serbia and its ally Russia, have not recognized Kosovo's independence. The United States and more than 40 other countries have. While independent, Kosovo is not yet a member of the United Nations.

 

1 abide   

vi.遵守；坚持；vt.忍受

参考例句：

• You must abide by the results of your mistakes.你必须承担你的错误所造成的后果。
• If you join the club,you have to abide by its rules.如果你参加俱乐部，你就得遵守它的规章。

2 advisory   

adj.劝告的，忠告的，顾问的，提供咨询

参考例句：

• I have worked in an advisory capacity with many hospitals.我曾在多家医院做过顾问工作。
• He was appointed to the advisory committee last month.他上个月获任命为顾问委员会委员。

3 mechanisms   

n.机械( mechanism的名词复数 )；机械装置；[生物学] 机制；机械作用

参考例句：

• The research will provide direct insight into molecular mechanisms. 这项研究将使人能够直接地了解分子的机理。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• He explained how the two mechanisms worked. 他解释这两台机械装置是如何工作的。 来自《简明英汉词典》

4 judicial   

adj.司法的，法庭的，审判的，明断的，公正的

参考例句：

• He is a man with a judicial mind.他是个公正的人。
• Tom takes judicial proceedings against his father.汤姆对他的父亲正式提出诉讼。

5 judgments   

判断( judgment的名词复数 )； 鉴定； 评价； 审判

参考例句：

• A peculiar austerity marked his judgments of modern life. 他对现代生活的批评带着一种特殊的苛刻。
• He is swift with his judgments. 他判断迅速。

6 binding   

有约束力的，有效的，应遵守的

参考例句：

• The contract was not signed and has no binding force. 合同没有签署因而没有约束力。
• Both sides have agreed that the arbitration will be binding. 双方都赞同仲裁具有约束力。