The International Court of Justice (ICJ) is expected to issue a verdict this week on the legality of Kosovo's unilateral declaration of sovereignty from Serbia in February 2008.
Serbia brought the case as part of its continuing resistance to Kosovo's independence, which has been recognized by some 69 countries including most European states and the United States. Detractors also include Russia, and many critics argue that allowing such a "precedent" by the tiny, predominantly ethnically Albanian province could encourage similar moves by minority-dominated areas in other countries.
In this Flash Analysis, RFE/RL's Balkan Service correspondent and author of "Cold Peace: Caucasus and Kosovo" Dragan Stavljanin speculates about which way the ICJ might rule.
Serbia brought the case as part of its continuing resistance to Kosovo's independence, which has been recognized by some 69 countries including most European states and the United States. Detractors also include Russia, and many critics argue that allowing such a "precedent" by the tiny, predominantly ethnically Albanian province could encourage similar moves by minority-dominated areas in other countries.
In this Flash Analysis, RFE/RL's Balkan Service correspondent and author of "Cold Peace: Caucasus and Kosovo" Dragan Stavljanin speculates about which way the ICJ might rule.
