Serbia’s foreign minister warned that an international court ruling backing the independence declaration by Kosovo opened a “Pandora’s box” for secessionist movements around the world.

KOSOVO’S unilateral secession from Serbia in 2008 did not violate international law, the World Court said yesterday, in a decision with implications for separatist movements everywhere.

Serbia’s foreign minister has said that the upcoming ruling by the International Court of Justice on the legality of Kosovo’s declaration of independence will create “an unprecedented opportunity” for compromise between rival Serbs and ethnic Albanians.