Serbia’s ingenious ploy to play for time on the Kosovo question – and to muddy the waters of those countries contemplating recognising Kosovo’s independence – has paid off handsomely.

Serbia today won the vote in the UN General Assembly to refer the issue to the International Court of Justice for an advisory opinion.

A handy if somewhat ambiguous win: 77 votes for Serbia, 6 against and a large number of abstentions.

Feeble EU disunity was again to the fore, with the UK and France abstaining (no doubt for fear of looking silly in a tiny group against) and Slovakia, Greece, Cyprus, Spain and Romania all voting with Belgrade.

Now what?

Nothing much.

The ICJ will start its ruminations. Those countries opposed to Kosovo’s independence will feel justified in pressing the UN not to cede its role on the ground to Kosovo to EULEX.

Serbia can get on with making its case for eventual EU accession.

Kosovo Albanians will wait uneasily for the ICJ vote, knowing that it will have no binding effect but wondering what will happen if the ICJ holds that the Kosovo independence process was in some way flawed.

Russia can gloat that it again has done a better job of mobilising global support than the US/UK/France.

And the region’s cigarette and other smugglers among all ethnic communities will be delighted. The greyer the status of Kosovo, the greater their chances of piling up the loot.

When in doubt, follow the money.