Vatra: Statement on International Court of Justice ruling on Kosova Independence

July 22, 2010

For Immediate Release        

STATEMENT ON INTERNATIONAL COURT OF JUSTICE RULING ON KOSOVA INDEPENDENCE 

The Pan-Albanian Federation of America VATRA welcomes the ruling of the International Court of Justice in The Hague today, that Kosova's Declaration of Independence from Serbia was legal.

We congratulate the people and the leaders of Kosova and those of Albania who worked tirelessly to overcome this hurdle that was unjustifiably thrown by Serbia on the path of international recognition of Kosova's statehood.

The advisory opinion, delivered by the highest international court authority, makes it unequivocally clear that Kosova did not violate any international laws by declaring its independence on February 17, 2008. This should dissipate any doubts of those countries that hesitated thus far to recognize the state of Kosova.

We Albanian-Americans, like Albanians everywhere, join the people of Kosova in reaffirming our eternal gratitude to the people and the leaders of the United States for their leading role, together with Great Britain and other European allies, in stopping the genocide and ethnic cleansing, and for the recognition and the resolute support of the independence of Kosova.