Serbia is entitled to seek the opinion of International Court of Justice on the legality of Kosovo’s unilateral independence — stated Bernard Kouchner, the French foreign minister yesterday. Kouchner pointed out that ICJ, if it considers this petition at all, would have to take all elements into consideration.

Kouchner said, “If the ICJ decides to consider this petition at all, and I am doubtful as to whether this will happen, it will have to take all elements into account.”

The French foreign minister reiterated that he had tried for years to initiate a dialogue between the Serbs and the Kosovo Albanians, but that this “was not possible” and that the international community, via Martti Ahtisaari’s plan, had assumed its responsibilities and was applying them.

Kouchner said, “We said that (Serbia) cannot ask Europe to join it and, at the same time, want (Europe) to fully agree with its petition. However, they are entitled to seek this opinion, just like all other countries.”

“They’ve (Serbia) submitted the petition to the UN General Assembly and we will see what the response will be. This does not change our position,” he noted.