"International law is not oil derrick to be put up for auction"
Head of the Modus Vivendi Centre, Armenia's former ambassador to Canada Ara Papian considers the decision of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) absolutely within the law.
On July 22, 2010, the ICJ ruled that "the unilateral declaration of independence of Kosovo does not violate international law," thus finding it legitimate.
Ara Papian points out to factors to prove his words.
"Firstly, it was within the law because the right to direct one's own political affairs, through the establishment of self-determination, is included in the UN Charter [Article 1(2)] as one of the main goals of the organization. Secondly, it is also within the law as there is no limitation set on declaring independence in international law.
"Naturally, declarations of independence are unilateral. When, for example, the United States and the Russian Federation declared their independence from the British Empire and the USSR respectively, they did so without, as it were, approval by "the central authorities". It is another matter whether "the central authorities" calmly come to terms with the fact, without unnecessary military frustrations, or whether they try to drown the will of others in blood," Ara Papyan told A1+.
The diplomat notes that the ICJ decision is encouraging in terms of developments of democratization of international law. The decision shows that the segregation of peoples as privileged and rejected is inconsistent with the thinking of the 21st century.
The decision is also encouraging when it comes to a democratic solution to the Karabakh conflict. That is to say, just as no one has the right to make decisions in place of an individual in a democratic society, similarly in current international relations, no one has the right to make decisions in place of the organized public of such individuals.
"International law cannot be put up for auction in the 21st century. International law is not for sale as an oil derrick," he noted.
