The Hague: The Arab Quartet has been compelled into taking action due to Qatar’s support for terrorism and its non-compliance with international obligations, Bahrain told the The International Court of Justice (ICJ) yesterday.
Bahrain’s Ambassador to the UK and its Agent to the ICJ Shaikh Fawaz bin Mohammed Al Khalifa addressed the first hearing session at the Peace Palace, The Hague, to discuss the arguments presented by representatives from Bahrain, Egypt and the UAE in the cases concerning an appeal relating to the jurisdiction of the International Civil Aviation Organisation Council.
He pointed out that the Quartet states, which also includes Saudi Arabia, took the measures on June 5, 2017 to preserve their national security.
Shaikh Fawaz stressed these measures, which included breaking off diplomatic relations with Qatar and imposing air space restrictions, were implemented with the hope that Qatar would then bring its conduct into compliance with its obligations.
Obligations
Shaikh Fawaz reiterated the decisions of the ICAO Council did not concern the substance of the dispute, as the real issue was not about civil aviation.
The hearings will last until Friday, with two rounds of oral pleadings in a case of two appeals from decisions of the ICAO Council under two international treaties, concerning the air space restrictions imposed by the Quartet in June 2017, in which the Quartet states are the appellants, concerns an issue of jurisdiction.
“The question is whether Qatar may bring to a technical organisation concerned with civil aviation ... into a dispute that concerns vital matters of national security and stability, relating to Qatar’s non-compliance with its international obligations under the Riyadh Agreements, and other international obligations.”
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