Qatar awaits ICJ’s ruling in air embargo case

DOHA, July 14 (YPA) – Qatar is waiting Tuesday for the International Court of Justice (ICJ)’s ruling in the case of the air embargo imposed on it by Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Egypt.

The Court will hold a public session at the Peace Palace in The Hague, during which Head of the Court, Judge Abdel-Qawi Ahmed Youssef, will read the court’s decisions, in the presence of its members and representatives of the parties.

In 2018, the Civil Aviation Organization decided that it has the legal authority to decide a dispute related to the request of Qatar, which accuses its neighboring countries of violating an agreement regulating the freedom to cross civil aircraft in foreign airspace.

The four countries immediately expressed their opposition to this decision, confirming that the Civil Aviation Organization is not the body authorized to decide on this dispute, and asked the ICJ’s judges to announce the decision of the Aviation Authority “null and void.”

In October 2017, Qatar submitted a complaint to the Council of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), as well as a second complaint filed under Article 2, paragraph 2, of the International Air Transit Services Agreement of 1944 against Bahrain, the UAE, and Egypt.

In June 2018, Qatar submitted its dispute with the UAE to the ICJ, accusing it of violating human rights after the blockade imposed on Doha.

The severing of diplomatic relations was accompanied by economic measures, including the closure of land borders and sea routes, the prevention of the use of airspace and the imposition of restrictions on the movement of Qataris.

YPA