New york: The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries stressed their belief in the crucial role of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in maintaining international peace and security, as the main judicial instrument of the United Nations, based on Article 92 of the UN Charter.
According to Qatar News Agency, this came in the State of Qatar’s statement, delivered by Third Secretary of the Permanent Mission of the State of Qatar to the United Nations, Abdulaziz Fadala Mubarak Al Sulaiti, on behalf of the GCC countries, before the sixth committee of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) during its 79th session, on the item ‘Report of the ICJ’, at the headquarters of the UN in New York.
Commenting on the legal opinions of the ICJ referred to in chapter V (b) of the report, Al Sulaiti said that most of the GCC countries participated in the oral proceedings of the legal opinion on Israel’s policies and practices in the occupied Palestinian territories held in The Hague. He pointed out that the GCC welc
omes the advisory opinion issued by the ICJ, while emphasizing the illegality of the Israeli presence in the Palestinian territories that have been occupied for 57 years.
The GCC also stresses the need to take practical and credible steps to reach a just and comprehensive solution to the Palestinian cause in accordance with the Arab Peace Initiative and the resolutions of international legitimacy, in a way that guarantees the brotherly Palestinian people their inherent right to self-determination and the establishment of their independent Palestinian State on the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital.
The GCC also welcomes Resolution A/RES/ES-10/24 issued by UNGA’s 10th Emergency Special Session, presented with a draft text on the advisory opinion of the ICJ regarding the Court’s opinion, he added.
In regard to the cases pending before the Court referred to in Chapter V (a) of the report, on the suit filed by South Africa against Israel concerning the application of the Convention on the Prevent
ion and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide in the Gaza Strip, Al Suwaidi explained that the GCC welcomes the provisional precautionary measures issued by the ICJ on Jan. 26. These measures call for Israel to take actions to prevent and punish direct and public incitement to commit genocide and to enable the provision of basic services and humanitarian assistance urgently needed to address difficult living conditions that Palestinians face in the Gaza Strip. Taking all necessary and effective measures, without delay, and in full cooperation with the UN, would alleviate the suffering of the brotherly Palestinian people and enhance peace and security in the region, added the Third Secretary of the Permanent Mission of Qatar to the UN.
In the context of Article 41 of the Court’s Statute, which stipulates that, “the Court shall have the power to indicate, if it considers that circumstances so require, any provisional measures which ought to be taken to preserve the respective rights of either party,” Israel is l
egally obligated to implement the provisional precautionary measures issued against it, he said, demanding the continued application of international laws agreed upon by all countries without any discrimination, selectivity, or double standards.
He also affirmed the importance of several items in Article 36 of the Court’s Statute, regarding its jurisdiction over the states parties, which is consistent with the principles stipulated in the UN Charter, especially the sovereignty of States and non-interference in their internal affairs and the principle of freedom to choose the most appropriate means of resolving international disputes based on Article 33 of the UN Charter.
He referred to Chapter I (IV) of the report on the ICJ’s Judicial Fellowship Programme, noting that, since it began in 1999, more than 100 judicial fellows have participated in this program, which aims to develop international competencies in the field of international law, and to improve participants’ understanding of public international
law in practice and the Court’s procedures by involving them directly in the Court’s activities. In this regard, Al Sulaiti urged the ICJ to expand the program to include wider participation from diverse geographic regions, particularly looking forward to seeing the GCC countries’ participation in this program, which will enhance cooperation between the ICJ and the GCC countries.
Third Secretary of the Permanent Mission of Qatar to the UN, Abdulaziz Fadala Mubarak Al Sulaiti said that the GCC emphasizes the important role of the ICJ, as the main independent judicial instrument, in promoting the rule of international law and resolving disputes between states through peaceful means, to achieve the UN goals and purposes.
Source: Qatar News Agency
