Today the International Court of Justice has issued its advisory opinion on the unilateral declaration of independence by Kosovo. While the full reading is ongoing the International Court of Justice President Hisashi Owada did say there was no "prohibition on declarations of independence" in international law and as a result Kosovo's declaration "did not violate general international law" making the declaration legal.While the full implications of the decision are pending the potential precedent being set is already clear. By ruling that international law does not prohibit a declaration of independence and likely by extension recognition of such a declaration countries now have legal cover to recognize other separatist entities around the world. One possible consequence is more recognitions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia.
