ICJ to deliver genocide ruling today

The Hague, February 26 (Source: B92) - The International Court of Justice (ICJ) will rule on Bosnia’s genocide case against Serbia today.

It is the first case of a state charged with genocide in the history of the UN's highest court. It will decide whether Serbia is accountable for atrocities in Bosnia during the war of the early 1990s.

If the Bosnian suit is successful, it will be the first time a state, rather than an individual or group, has been held responsible for genocide. Bosnia could then seek billions of dollars in compensation from Serbia.

Before ruling on Bosnia's suit, the court must announce its decision on Serbia's challenge to its jurisdiction.

The International Court of Justice, also known as the World Court, can only adjudicate disputes among U.N. member states. The Security Council suspended Yugoslavia's membership in 1992 and readmitted the country, then Serbia-Montenegro, in 2001. Serbia argues that its actions are not liable for the court's scrutiny during its period of international limbo.

Legal experts say the court's lengthy deliberations, which lasted 10 months after the concluding hearings, is a strong indication that it will strike down Serbia's challenge.

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