The Independence of Kosovo was declared on February 17, 2008 at 15:39 in the Assembly of the Republic of Kosovo in Pristina. In an extraordinary meeting attended by 109 out of a total of 120 MPs, the Assembly of Kosovo unanimously declared Kosovo an independent, sovereign and democratic state. The legality of Kosovo's Declaration of Independence has been a contentious issue for some time. Opposing Kosovo's Declaration of Independence, Serbia demanded an assessment of its international validity and support for its position, alleging that Kosovo's Declaration of Independence was illegal. Following this development, in October 2008, Serbia sought an advisory opinion from the International Court of Justice. On July 22, 2010, the International Court of Justice through an Advisory Decision reaffirmed that the Kosovo Declaration of Independence has not violated any article of International Law. Kosovo's declaration of independence on February 17, 2008, was the culmination of a long and difficult journey for the citizens of Kosovo. For years the citizens of Kosovo suffered the consequences of ethnic cleansing by the Serbian regime of Slobodan Milosevic, which resulted in a Liberation War (1997-99). After the end of the Kosovo Liberation War, international peacekeeping troops were deployed in Kosovo. From 13 June 1999, when Serbian forces were forced to leave Kosovo, the country was administered by the United Nations Mission to Kosovo UNMIK and the Kosovo Self-Government Institutions: the Assembly, the President and the Government. Although Serbia had no control over Kosovo, Security Council Resolution 1244 repeatedly mentioned that Kosovo was a UN protectorate but legally part of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. In November 2005, the process for Kosovo's final status officially began. Following comprehensive consultations, on February 2, 2007, the international special envoy for the status of Kosovo, Martti Ahtisaari, submitted his proposal to Pristina and Belgrade for Kosovo's conditional independence, a step that led to the creation of an independent state. After several rounds of talks, Kosovo declared independence on February 17, 2008. The Declaration of Independence of Kosovo was made by the former Prime Minister of Kosovo, Hashim Thaçi, members of the Assembly of Kosovo, and the President of Kosovo, at a meeting held in Pristina, on February 17, 2008. "We, the democratically elected leaders of our people, through this Declaration declare Kosovo an independent and sovereign state. "This declaration reflects the will of our people and is in full compliance with the recommendations of the United Nations Special Envoy, Martti Ahtisaari, and his Comprehensive Proposal for the Kosovo Status Settlement," said the statement signed by the participating MPs. The Declaration of Independence of Kosovo was unanimously approved by 109 MPs present in the hall of the Assembly of Kosovo. Eleven MPs representing the Serb minority boycotted the voting procedure. Nine representatives of other ethnic minorities were part of the quorum. Following a request from Russia, the United Nations Security Council held an emergency session on the afternoon of 17 February. UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon issued a neutral statement urging all parties to refrain from any action that could endanger peace, promote violence or endanger security in Kosovo or the region". Speaking on behalf of six countries - Belgium, Croatia, France, Germany, Italy and the United States - the Belgian ambassador expressed regret that the Security Council could not agree on a way forward, but this blockade has been very clear for some time. Today 's events represent the end of a status process that has exhausted all avenues in pursuit of a negotiated outcome." On February 18, 2008, the EU presidency announced that after a day of heated talks between the foreign ministers, member states were free to decide individually whether to recognize Kosovo's independence. Most EU member states have recognized Kosovo, but Cyprus, Greece, Romania, Slovakia and Spain continue not to recognize it. Shortly before Kosovo's Declaration of Independence, the European Union approved the deployment of a 2,000-member non-military mission for the Rule of Law, "EULEX", to further develop Kosovo's police and justice sector. All twenty-seven European Union member states approved the EULEX mandate, including a minority of five EU countries that have not yet recognized Kosovo's independence.