The court ruled that Belgrade's claims against NATO members Belgium, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Portugal and Britain should be rejected because Serbia and Montenegro was not a member of the United Nations at the time the complaint was filed

in April 1999.

"The court concludes that at the time of filing of the application of the present procedings ... Serbia and Montenegro was not a member of the United Nations and was not on that basis a state party to the ICJ," presiding judge Shi Jiuyong said.

The 15-judge panel reached their decision unanimously.

The ICJ can only rule on disputes between UN member states, unless they have signed conventions giving the court jurisdiction or two states agree to let the court consider its dispute or if the UN Security Council refers a case for an advisory opinion.