Federal Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle today issued the following statement on the publication of the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice on the status of Kosovo:

”The ICJ’s advisory opinion confirms our legal view that the Republic of Kosovo’s declaration of independence was lawful. It supports our view that the Republic of Kosovo’s independence and territorial integrity are irrefutable facts.

Today marks the end of a legal process. Now the focus shifts to policies and dialogue. The future of Serbia and Kosovo lies in the EU. I therefore call on the political leaders in Belgrade and Pristina to look to their countries’ European future and, in the interest of their peoples, to cooperate constructively and pragmatically to tackle questions arising in their day-to-day coexistence.“