On April, 12 the Council of European Union presented a Declaration on the occasion of 60th Anniversary of the International Court of Justice. It was pointed out in the Declaration that the International Court of Justice, which was grounded in accordance with the UN 1945 Charter and commenced immediate activity in 1946, has utterly proven its full value as a corner stone of international law and order.
In the document the European Union once again voices its unflinching support of the International Court of Justice, which is acknowledged by EU member-states to be the main judicial body of the United Nations. EU Council underscores in the Declaration that it realizes the significance of the contribution of the International Court of Justice into peaceful settlement of international conflicts. The Court created a whole system of legal decisions and recommendations of highest standards, which, in its turn, is an inalienable and reliable means of defining the norms of international law.
The European Union with satisfaction draws the attention of international community to the increase in the number of cases and legal issues, tackled by the Court in the last decades. The fact vividly illustrates the trust of the international community towards the activity of the International Court of Justice, to the international law as such and peaceful solution of questions and disputes employing legal means in particular.
In the time when the creation of special international courts, tribunals and other institutions called to settle disputes postulates the possibility of legal resolution of disputes, the International Court of Justice remains the major legal institution and the heart of international law and order, grounded in the supremacy of law.
The European Union availed itself of the opportunity to call upon all the countries to proceed resolving all their disputes in the International Court of Justice and stick to the recommendations of the Court.
The Declaration of the EU Council was not confined to the EU member-states, such countries as Bulgaria, Norway, Turkey, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia and Montenegro, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Moldova and Ukraine also joined the Declaration.
