THE BELGRADE CENTRE FOR HUMAN RIGHTS
Mlatisumina 26, 11000 Beograd, FR Yugoslavia
Tel/fax (+381 11) 432 572 or 344 1203. E-mail: bgcentar@EUnet.yu

27/3/99

STATEMENT OF SIX PROFESSORS OF INTERNATIONAL LAW IN SERBIA

The armed attack on Yugoslavia, which started on 24 March 1999, is a grave violation of one of the fundamental rules of contemporary international law, enshrined in Art. 2.4 of the United Nations Charter. The Charter does prohibit both the use and the threat of force in international relations. NATO action is an act of aggression according to the definition of aggression, adopted by the United Nations with the concurrence of all states now using force against FRY. Unfortunately, 19 members of NATO and of the United Nations have participated in this illegal action; among them three permanent members of the Security Council, who bear special responsibility for the protection of international peace and security.

Since the pronouncement of the Nuremberg judgement in 1946 aggression has been considered an international crime entailing criminal responsibility for its perpetrators. «Humanitarian intervention» cannot justify an act of aggression, neither can the circumstances in Yugoslavia, including the situation in Kosovo at the moment of the beginning of the hostilities, deprive the perpetrated deed of its illegality.

The very foundations of the international order, which has been maintained in the last 50 years in spite of many challenges, are now shaken. If any country, especially a large and powerful one, can take justice in its own hands, the future of the world becomes uncertain and wrought with danger.

The undersigned professors of international law protest against this act of aggression and appeal to the governments concerned to immediately cease their military operations. They call on all UN members to exert pressure in that direction. We hope and believe that the responsibility of all participants in this tragedy will soon be impartially determined.

No political problem can be solved by the use of force. Force does not resolve any question, least of all prevent humanitarian disaster. The political isolation of the FRY cannot be a justification of the violation of international law: Yugoslavia and its citizens cannot therefore be placed outside the law.

Belgrade, 27 March 1999

Ljubivoje A}imovi},
former Counsel,
Institute of International Politics and Economy,
Belgrade.

Vojin Dimitrijevi},
former Professor of International Law and International Relations,
University of Belgrade Law School;
Director, Belgrade Centre for Human Rights;
former Vice-Chairman, UN Human Rights Committee.

Dejan Jan~a,
former Professor of Public International Law,
University of Novi Sad Law School;
former member, UN Human Rights Committee.

Konstantin Obradovi},
former Professor of Public International Law,
Faculty of Political Science, University of Belgrade;
Member of the Institute of International Humanitarian Law, San Remo.

Obrad Ra~i},
former Professor of International Organisations, Faculty of Political Science, University of Belgrade.