Page "Self-determination" Paragraph 44

National self-determination appears to challenge the principle of territorial integrity ( or sovereignty ) of states as it is the will of the people that makes a state legitimate.

This implies a people should be free to choose their own state and its territorial boundaries.

However, there are far more self-identified nations than there are existing states and there is no legal process to redraw state boundaries according to the will of these peoples.

According to the Helsinki Final Act of 1975, the UN, ICJ and international law experts, there is no contradiction between the principles of self-determination and territorial integrity, with the latter taking precedence.