Kosovo Admits Serbia Could Win at UN

Pristina _ Serbia’s bid to get the World Court’s opinion on the legality of Kosovo’s independence is likely to be backed by the UN’s General Assembly, Kosovo’s Foreign Minister admits.

Serbia’s resolution has a strong chance of passing at the United Nations General Assembly even “with a low number of votes, as the voting system was set in a way so that every resolution passes there,” said Kosovo’s Foreign Minister, Skender Hyseni in Pristina, after his visit to New York.

On Wednesday, the 192 members of the UN’s General Assembly will be asked if they support Belgrade’s bid to ask the International Court of Justice if Kosovo’s February 17 declaration of independence from Serbia was in line with international law.

Serbia needs just a simple majority of votes at the assembly for its resolution to be forwarded to the World Court.

However Hyseni said such a pose will not pose any long-term obstacles for Kosovo.

“We have been ensured in New York that many states will recognise Kosovo even before voting on the Serbian resolution,” said Hyseni.

Hyseni, who was in New York to lobby for further recognitions of Kosovo’s independence, decided not to stay there to watch the vote proceed since Kosovo is not a member of the United Nations.

During his stay, Kosovo’s Foreign Ministry officials met diplomats and ambassadors from various Arab countries and argued the legal grounds for Kosovo’s declaration of independence from Serbia earlier this year.