Ministar Jeremić asks 80 states for their opinion on Kosovo's independence

Jeremic sent the letter UN member-states that have not recognized the independence of Kosovo or maintained a neutral stand during the vote at the UN General Assembly.

The ICJ is due to consider the question of whether Kosovo's unilateral independence declaration was in line with international law over the coming 2-3 years.

The minister stresses that the ICJ's ruling will "establish a powerful premise with far-reaching ramifications for the UN system."

"The outcome will: either strongly discourage other separatist movements from attempts at secession, or will bring a result that could encourage them to act similarly," he warns.

Jeremić repeats that the "attempt at secession by the Albanian authorities is a clear violation of the UN Charter that guarantees sovereignty and territorial integrity to all internationally recognized states, including Serbia," and that supporting such moves would lead to "at least three dangerous doctrines: ad hoc impositions of solutions to ethnic conflicts by subverting the Security Council, forced division of UN member-states, and unilateral secession by provincial or other non-state actors."

"As a result, separatist groups throughout the world will receive a fresh example of how to realize their ambitions. The international system will become unstable, uncertain and unpredictable," he points out.

According to Serbian daily Vecernje Novosti, Spain and Russia have officially confirmed that their legal teams are preparing statements for the ICJ, while Venezuela and Cyprus are also about to follow suit.

On October 8, 2008, the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution seeking the ICJ's advisory opinion on the legality of Kosovo's independence declaration.

Of the total 192 General Assembly members, 77 voted for, six against, while 74 abstained.