Deadline expires for the submission of answers to ICJ questions

The judge from Sierre Leone asked if independence is allowed beyond the decolonization context. The Morocco judge asked if Kosovo provisional institutions conducted a campaign for the 2007 autumn elections on the platform to unilaterally proclaim independence when elected or if they presented a declaration on independence as an alternative. The judge from Brazil asked about the meaning of the Rambouillet document - if it establishes a right to self-determination and if it does, under what conditions.

Participating states can, but do not have to submit their written replies to the court, after which a public debate is expected to be closed and the phase after which 15 ICJ judges will voice their stand on the issue of legality of the unilateral proclamation of independence of Kosovo, will begin.

It is expected that in mid-2010 they will present their opinion on the issue if the unilateral proclamation of independence of Kosovo on the part of provisional Kosovo institutions is in line with the international law.

This question was set by the UN General Assembly in October last year, at Serbia's initiative.

The opinion of counsel is not binding for states, but is assessed as having a huge legal, political and moral weight. During a public debate, all the 15 judges heard the stands of Serbia, provisional Kosovo institutions and another 27 states.