COUR INTERNATIONALE DE JUSTICE
RECUEIL DES ARRÊTS,
AVIS CONSULTATIFS ET ORDONNANCES
AFFAIRE RELATIVE À LA LICÉITÉ
DE L'EMPLOI DE LA FORCE
(YOUGOSLAVIE c. ALLEMAGNE)
DEMANDE EN INDICATION DE MESURES
CONSERVATOIRES
ORDONNANCE DU 2 JUIN 1999
INTERNATIONAL COURT OF JUSTICE
REPORTS OF JUDGMENTS,
ADVISORY OPINIONS AND ORDERS
CASE CONCERNING
LEGALITY OF USE OF FORCE
(YUGOSLAVIA v.GERMANY)
REQUEST FOR THE INDICATION OF PROVISIONAL
MEASURES
ORDER OF 2 JUNE 1999 Mode officiel de citation:
Licéitéde l'emploi de luforce (Yougosluvie c. Allrmugne),
nlesures conservutoir.es,ordonnance du 2 juin 1999,
C.I.J. Recueil 1999, p. 422
Officia1citat:on
Legality of'Uof Force(Yugoslaviv.Germany),
Provisionul Meusures, Ordrr of 2 June 1999,
IC.J. Rcjporfs199p.422
Noàevente: 730 1
ISSN 0074-4441 Sales number
ISBN 92-1-070798-2 2 JUIN 1999
ORDONNANCE
LICÉITÉ DE L'EMPLOI DE LA FORCE
(YOUGOSLAVIE c. ALLEMAGNE)
DEMANDE EN INDICATION DE MESURES
CONSERVATOIRES
LEGALITY OF USE OF FORCE
(YUGOSLAVIA v.GERMANY)
REQUEST FOR THE INDICATION OF PROVISIONAL
MEASURES
2 JUNE 1999
ORDER INTERNATIONAL COURT OF JUSTICE
YEAR 1999 1999
2June
General List
2 June 1999 No. 108
CASE CONCERNING
LEGALITY OF USE OF FORCE
(YUGOSLAVIA v.GERMANY)
REQUEST FOR THE INDICATION OF PROVISIONAL
MEASURES
ORDER
Present: Vice-PresidenWEERAMANTR Y ting Presidcnt ; President
SCHWEBEL Judges ODA, BEDJAOUIG , UILLAUMER , ANJEVA,
HERCZEGH,SHI, FLEISCHHAUER K,OROMA,VERESHCHETIN,
HIGGINSP,ARRA-ARANGCRK ENO,OIJMAN S;dgead hoc KRECA;
RegistruVALENCIA-OSPINA.
The International Court of Justice,
Composed as above,
After deliberation,
Having regard to Articles 41 andof the Statute of the Court and to
Articles 73 and 74 of thees of Court,
Having regard to the Application by the Federal Republic of Yugo-
slavia (hereinafter "Yugoslavia") filed in the Registry of the Court on
29 April 1999, instituting proceedings against the Federal Republic of
Germany (hereinafter "Germany") "for violation of the obligation not to
use force",
Mrrkes tlzeJolloii~ingOrder: 1. Whereas in that Application Yugoslavia defines the subject of the
dispute as follows:
"The subject-matter of the dispute are acts of the Federal Repub-
lie of Germany by which it has violated its international obligation
banning the use of force against another State, the obligation not to
intervene in the interna1 affairs of another State, the obligation not
to violate the sovereignty of another State, the obligation to protect
the civilian population and civilianobjects in wartime, the obligation
to protect the environment, the obligation relating to free navigation
on international rivers, the obligation regarding fundamental human
rights and freedoms, the obligation not to use prohibited weapons,
the obligation not to deliberately inflict conditions of life calculated
to cause the physical destruction of a national group";
2. Whereas in the said Application Yugoslavia refers, as a basis for the
jurisdiction of the Court, to ArticleIX of the Convention on the Preven-
tion and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide, adopted by the General
Assembly of the United Nations on 9 December 1948 (hereinafter the
"Genocide Convention"), and to Article 38, paragraph 5, of the Rules of
Court ;
3. Whereas in its Application Yugoslavia states that the claims sub-
mitted by it to the Court are based upon the following facts:
"The Government of the Federal Republic of Germany, together
with the Governments of other Member States of NATO, took part
in the acts of use of force against the Federal Republic of Yugosla-
via by taking part in bombing targets in the Federal Republic of
Yugoslavia. In bombing the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia mili-
tary and civilian targets were attacked. Great number of people were
killed, including a great many civilians. Residential houses came
under attack. Numerous dwellings were destroyed. Enormous dam-
age was caused to schools, hospitals, radio and television stations,
cultural and health institutions and to places of worship. A large
number of bridges, roads and railway lines were destroyed. Attacks
on oil refineriesand chemical plants have had serious environmental
effects on cities, towns and villages in the Federal Republic ofugo-
slavia. The use of weapons containing depleted uranium is having
far-reaching consequences for human life.The above-mentioned acts
are deliberately creatingconditions calculated at the physical destruc-
tion of an etlinic group, in whole or in part. The Government of the
Federal Republic of Germany is taking part in the training, arming,
financing, equipping and supplying the so-called 'Kosovo Liberation
Army'";and whereas it further states that the said claims are based on the follow-
ing legal grounds:
"The above acts of the Government of the Federal Republic of
Germany represent a gross violation of the obligation not to use
force against another State. Byfinancing, arming,training and equip-
ping the so-called 'Kosovo Liberation Army', support isgiven to ter-
rorist groups and the secessionist movement in the territory of the
Federal Republic of Yugoslavia in breach of the obligation not to
intervene in the interna] affairs of another State. In addition, the
provisions of the Geneva Convention of 1949and of the Additional
Protocol No. 1 of 1977 on the protection of civilians and civilian
objects in time of war have been violated. The obligation to protect
the environment has also been breached. The destruction of bridges
on the Danube is in contravention of the provisions of Article 1of
the 1948Convention on free navigation on the Danube. The provi-
sions of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights
and of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cul-
tural Rights of 1966have also been breached. Furthermore, the obli-
gation contained in the Convention on the Prevention and Punish-
ment of the Crime of Genocide not to impose deliberately on a
national group conditions of lifecalculated to bring about the physi-
cal destruction of the group has been breached. Furthermore, the
activities in which the Federal Republic of Germany is taking part
are contrary to Article 53, paragraph 1,of the Charter of the United
Nations" ;
4. Whereas the claims of Yugoslavia are formulated as follows in the
Application :
"The Government of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia requests
the International Court of Justice to adjudge and declare:
- by taking part in the bombing of the territory of the Federal
Republic of Yugoslavia, the Federal Republic of Germany has
acted against the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia in breach of its
obligation not to use force against another State;
- by taking part in the training, arming, financing, equipping and
supplying terrorist groups, i.e. the so-called 'Kosovo Liberation
Army', the Federal Republic of Germany has acted against the
Federal Republic of Yugoslavia in breach of its obligation not to
intervene in the affairs of another State;
- by taking part in attacks on civilian targets, the Federal Repub-
lie of Germany has acted against the Federal Republic of Yugo-
slavia in breach of its obligation to spare the civilian population,
civilians and civilian objects; by taking part in destroying or damaging monasteries, monu-
ments of culture, the Federal Republic of Germany has acted
against the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia in breach of its obli-
gation not to commit any act of hostility directed against histori-
cal monuments, works of art or places of worship which consti-
tute cultural or spiritual heritage of people;
- by taking part in the use of cluster bombs, the Federal Republic
of Germany has acted against the Federal Republic of Yugosla-
via in breach of its obligation not to use prohibited weapons, i.e.
weapons calculated to cause unnecessary suffering;
- by taking part in the bombing of oil refineries and chemical
plants, the Federal Republic of Germany has acted against the
Federal Republic of Yugoslavia in breach of its obligation not to
cause considerable environmental damage;
- by taking part in the use of weapons containing depleted ura-
nium, the Federal Republic of Germany has acted against the
Federal Republic of Yugoslavia in breach of its obligation not to
use prohibited weapons and not to cause far-reaching health and
environmental damage", :
by taking part in killing civilians,destroying enterprises, commu-
nications, health and cultural institutions, the Federal Republic
of Germany has acted against the Federal Republic of Yugosla-
via in breach of its obligation to respect the right to life,the right
to work, the right to information, the right to health care as well
as other basic human rights;
- by taking part in destroying bridges on international rivers, the
Federal Republic of Germany has acted against the Federal
Republic of Yugoslavia in breach of its obligation to respect
freedom of navigation on international rivers;
- by taking part in activities listed above, and in particular by
causing enormous environmental damage and by using depleted
uranium, the Federal Republic of Germany has acted against the
Federal Republic of Yugoslavia in breach of its obligation not to
deliberately inflict on a national group conditions of life calcu-
lated to bring about its physical destruction, in whole or in part;
- the Federal Republic of Germany is responsible for the violation
of the above international obligations;
- the Federal Republic of Germany is obliged to stop immediately
the violation of the above obligations vis-à-visthe Federal Repu-
blic of Yugoslavia ;
- the Federal Republic of Germany is obliged to provide compen- sation for the damage done to the Federal Republic of Yugosla-
via and to its citizens and juridical persons";
and whereas, at the end of its Application, Yugoslavia reserves the right
to amend and supplement it;
5. Whereas on 29 April 1999,immediately after filing its Application,
Yugoslavia also submitted a request for the indication of provisional
measures pursuant to Article 73 of the Rules of Court; and whereas that
request was accompanied by a volume of photographie annexes pro-
duced as "evidence" ;
6. Whereas, in support of its request for the indication of provisional
measures. Yugoslavia contends inter uliu that, since the onset of the
bombing of its territory, and as a result thereof, about 1,000 civilians,
includine 19 children. have been killed and more than 4.500 have sus-
tained serious injuries; that the lives of three million children are endan-
gered; that hundreds of thousands of citizens have been exposed to poi-
sonous gases; that about one million citizens are short of water supply;
that about 500,000 workers have become jobless; that two million citi-
zens have no means of livelihood and are unable to ensure minimum
means of sustenance; and that the road and railway network has suffered
extensive destruction; whereas, in its request for the indication of provi-
sional measures, Yugoslavia also lists the targets alleged to have come
under attack in the air strikes and describes in detail the damage alleged
to have been inflicted upon them (bridges, railway lines and stations,
roads and means of transport, airports, industry and trade, refineries and
warehouses storing liquid raw materials and chemicals, agriculture, hos-
pitals and health care centres, schools, public buildings and housing
f'acilities,infrastructure, telecommunications, cultural-historical monu-
ments and religious shrines); and whereas Yugoslavia concludes from
this that:
"The acts described above caused death, physical and mental
harm to the population of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia; huge
devastation; heavy pollution of the environment, so that the Yugo-
slav population is deliberately imposed conditions of life calculated
to bring about physical destruction of the group, in whole or in
part" ;
7. Whereas, at the end of its request for the indication of provisional
measures, Yugoslavia States that
"If the proposed measure were not to be adopted, there will be
new losses of human life, further physical and mental harm inflicted
on the population of the FR of Yugoslavia, further destruction of
civilian targets, heavy environmental pollution and further physical
destruction of the people of Yugoslavia";and whereas, while reserving the right to amend and supplement its
request, Yugoslavia requests the Court to indicate the following measure:
"The Federal Republic of Germany shall cease immediately its
acts of use of force and shall refrain from any act of threat or use of
force against the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia";
8. Whereas the request for the indication of provisional measures was
accompanied by a letter from the Agent of Yugoslavia, addressed to the
President and Members of the Court, which read as follows:
"1 have the honour to bring to the attention of the Court the latest
bombing of the central area of the town of Surdulica on 27 April
1999at noon resulting in losses of lives of civilians, most of whom
were children and women, and to remind of killings of peoples in
Kursumlija, Aleksinac and Cuprija, as well as bombing of a refugee
convov and the Radio and Television of Serbia. iust t3 .Jntion
some of the well-known atrocities. Therefore, 1 would like to caution
the Court that there is a highest probability of further civilian and
military casualties.
Considering the power conferred upon the Court by Article 75,
paragraph 1, of the Rules of Court and having in mind the greatest
urgency caused by the circumstances described in the Requests for
provisional measure of protection 1 kindly ask the Court to decide
on the submitted Requests proprio nlotu or to fixa date for a hearing
at earliest possible time";
9. Whereas on 29 April 1999, the day on which the Application and
the request for the indication of provisional measures were filed in the
Registry, the Registrar sent to the German Government signed copies of
the Application and of the request, in accordance with Article 38, para-
graph 4, and Article 73, paragraph 2, of the Rules of Court; and whereas
he also sent to that Government copies of the documents accompanying
the Application and the request for the indication of provisional meas-
ures;
10. Whereas on 29 April 1999the Registrar informed the Parties that
the Court had decided, pursuant to Article 74, paragraph 3, of the Rules
of Court, to hold hearings on 10and 11May 1999,where they would be
able to present their observations on the request for the indication of pro-
visional measures ;
II. Whereas, pending the notification under Article 40, paragraph 3,
of the Statute and Article 42 of the Rules of Court, by transmittal of the
printed bilingual text of the Application to the Members of the United
Nations and other States entitled to appear before the Court, the Regis-
trar on 29 April 1999informed those States of the filing of the Applica-
tion and of its subject-matter, and of the filing of the request for the
indication of provisional measures; 12. Whereas, since the Court includes upon the bench no judge of
Yugoslav nationality, the Yugoslav Government has availed itself of the
provisions of Article 31 of the Statute of the Court to choose Mr.
Milenko Kreéato sit as judge UL I10~.in the case; and whereas no objec-
tion to that choice was raised within the time-limit fixed for the purpose
pursuant to Article 35, paragraph 3, of the Rules of Court;
13. Whereas, at the public hearings held between 10and 12May 1999,
oral observations on the request for the indication of provisional meas-
ures were presented by the following:
On behaif qf'Yugoslui~iu:
Mr. Rodoljub Etinski, Agent,
Mr. Ian Brownlie,
Mr. Paul J.1. M. de Waart,
Mr. Eric Suy,
Mr. Miodrag MitiL,
Mr. Olivier Corten;
On helz~lifof Gcrmany .
Mr. Gerhard Westdickenberg, Agent,
Mr. Reinhard Hilger, Co-Agent;
14. Whereas, in this phase of the proceedings, the Parties presented the
following submissions :
On behuif of Y~rgoslaviu.
"[Tlhe Court [isasked] to indicate the following provisional meas-
ure :
[Tlhe Federal Republic of Germany . . .shall cease immediately
the acts of use of force and shall refrain from any act of threat or use
of force against the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia";
On behuif of Germuny .
"That the Court decline to indicate the provisional measures
requested by the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia";
15. Whereas the Court is deeply concerned with the human tragedy,
the loss of life, and the enormous suffering in Kosovo which form the
background of the present dispute, and with the continuing loss of life
and human suffering in al1parts of Yugoslavia;
16. Whereas the Court is profoundly concerned with the use of force
in Yugoslavia; whereas under the present circumstances such use raises
very serious issues of international law; 17. Whereas the Court is mindful of the purposes and principles of the
United Nations Charter and of its own responsibilities in the mainte-
nance of peace and security under the Charter and the Statute of the
Court;
18. Whereas the Court deems it necessary to emphasize that al1parties
appearing before it must act in conformity with their obligations under
the United Nations Charter and other rules of international law, includ-
ing humanitarian law;
19. Whereas the Court, under its Statute, does not automatically have
jurisdiction over legal disputes between States parties to that Statute or
between other States to whom access to the Court has been granted;
whereas the Court has repeatedly stated "that one of the fundamental
principles of its Statute is that it cannot decide a dispute between States
without the consent of those States to itsjurisdiction" (Eust Tit71or(Por-
tugal v. Austrulia), Judgment. I. C. J. Reports 1995, p. 101,para. 26);and
whereas the Court can therefore exercisejurisdiction only between States
parties to a dispute who not only have access to the Court but also have
accepted the jurisdiction of the Court, either in general form or for the
individual dispute concerned;
20. Whereas on a request for provisional measures the Court need not,
before deciding whether or not to indicate them, finally satisfy itself that
it has jurisdiction on the merits of the case, yet it ought not to indicate
such measures unless the provisions invoked by the applicant appear,
prima facie, to afford a basis on which thejurisdiction of the Court might
be established:
21. Whereas in its Application Yugoslavia claims in the first place to
found the jurisdiction of the Court on Article IX of the Genocide Con-
vention, which provides:
"Disputes between the Contracting Parties relating to the interpre-
tation, application or fulfilment of the present Convention, including
those relating to the responsibility of a State for genocide or for any
of the other acts enumerated in article III, shall be submitted to the
International Court of Justice at the request of any of the parties to
the dispute";
and whereas in its Application Yugoslavia States that the subject of the
dispute concerns inter aliu"acts of the Federal Republic of Germany by
which it has violated its international obligation . . .not to deliberately
inflict conditions of life calculated to cause the physical destruction of anational group"; whereas, in describing the facts on which the Applica-
tion is based, Yugoslavia States: "The above-mentioned acts are deliber-
ately creating conditions calculated at the physical destruction of an
ethnie group, in whole or in part"; whereas, in its statement of the legal
grounds on which the Application is based, Yugoslavia contends that
"the obligation . . not to impose deliberately on a national group con-
ditions of life calculated to bring about the physical destruction of the
group has been breached"; and whereas one of the claims on the merits
set out in the Application is formulated as follows:
"by taking part in activities listed above, and in particular by
causing enormous environmental damage and by using depleted
uranium, the Federal Republic of Germany has acted against the
Federal Republic of Yugoslavia in breach of its obligation not to
deliberately inflict on a national group conditions of life calculated
to bring about its physical destruction, in whole or in part";
22. Whereas Yugoslavia contends moreover that the sustained and
intensive bombing of the whole of its territory, including the most heavily
populated areas, constitutes "a serious violation of Article II of the
Genocide Convention"; whereas it argues that "the pollution of soil, air
and water. destroying the economy of the country, contaminating the
environment with depleted uranium, inflicts conditions of life on the
Yugoslav nation calculated to bring about its physical destruction";
whereas it asserts that itis the Yugoslav nation as a whole and as such
that is targeted; and whereas it stresses that the use of certain weapons
whose long-term hazards to health and the environment are already
known, and the destruction of the largest part of the country's power
supply system, with catastrophic consequences of which the Respondent
must be aware, "impl[y] the intent to destroy, in whole or in part. the
Yugoslav national group as such;
23. Whereas for its part Germany contends that Article 1X of the
Genocide Convention does not constitute a basis of jurisdiction in this
case, because the subject-matter of the claims brought by Yugoslavia
does not relate to "the interpretation, application or fulfilment of the
Convention, includingdisputes relating to the responsibility of a Statefor
genocide or for any of the other acts enumerated in Article III of the
Convention"; and whereas Germany also maintains that even if true, the
breaches of international obligations alleged by Yugoslavia in its Appli-
cation do not enter the definition of Article II of the Genocide Conven-
tion ;
24. Whereas it is not disputed that both Yugoslavia and Germany are
parties to the Genocide Convention without reservation; and whereas
Article IX of the Convention accordingly appears to constitute a basis on
which the jurisdiction of the Court might be founded to the extent that
the subject-matter of the dispute relates to "the interpretation, applica-tion or fulfilment" of the Convention, including disputes "relating to the
responsibility of a State for genocide or for any of the other actsenumer-
ated in article III" of the said Convention;
25. Whereas, in order to determine, even prima facie, whether a dis-
pute within the meaning of Article IX of the GenocideConvention exists,
the Court cannot limit itself to noting that one of the Parties maintains
that the Convention applies, while the other denies it; and whereas in the
present case the Court must ascertain whether the breaches of the Con-
vention alleged byYugoslavia are capableof falling within the provisions
of that instrument and whether, as a consequence, the dispute is one
which the Court has jurisdiction rationr materiu~ to entertain pursuant
to Article IX (cf.Oil Plutforrî1s(Islutîzic Repuhlic of Irav. United Stutes
of Amrricu), Preliminury Objection, Judgment, I.C.J. Reports 1996 (II),
p. 810, para. 16);
26. Whereas the definition of genocide set out in Article II of the
Genocide Convention reads as follows:
"ln the present Convention, genocide means any of the following
actscommitted with intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national,
ethnical, racial or religious group, assuch:
(a) Killing members of the group;
(b) Causing serious bodily or mental harm to members of the
group;
(c) Deliberately inflicting on the group conditionsof lifecalculated
to bring about its physical destruction in whole or in part;
(d) Imposing measures intended to prevent births within the group;
(e) Forcibly transferring children of the group to another group";
27. Whereas it appears to the Court, from this definition, "that [the]
essential characteristic [of genocide] is the intended destruction of 'a
national, ethnical, racial or religious group'"(Applicution of the Conven-
tion on the Prevention und Punishment of the Crime of Genocide, Provi-
sionul Meusures, Order of 13 September 1993, I. C.J. Reports 1993,
p. 345, para. 42); whereas the threat or use of force against a State can-
not in itselfconstitute an act of genocide within the meaning of Article Il
of the Genocide Convention; and whereas, in the opinion of theCourt, it
does not appear at the present stage ofthe proceedings that the bombings
which form the subject of the Yugoslav Application "indeed entai1 the
element of intent, towards a group as such, required by the provision
quoted above" (Legulity of tlle Tl~reutor Usc of Nuclear Weapons. Advi-
sury Opinion, I.C.J. Reports 1996 (1), p. 240, para. 26);
28. Whereas the Court is therefore not in a position to find, at this
stage of the proceedings, that the acts imputed by Yugoslavia to the
Respondent are capable of coming within the provisions of the Genocide
Convention; and whereas Article IX of the Convention, invoked byYugoslavia, cannot accordingly constitute a basis on which the jurisdic-
tion of the Court could prima facie be founded in this case;
29. Whereas in its Application Yugoslavia claims, in the second place,
to found the jurisdiction of the Court on Article 38, paragraph 5, of the
Rules of Court, which reads as follows:
"5. When the applicant State proposes to found the jurisdiction of
the Court upon a consent thereto yet to be given or manifested by
the State against which such application is made, the application
shall be transmitted to that State. It shall not however be entered in
the General List, nor any action be taken in the proceedings, unless
and until the State against which such application is made consents
to the Court's jurisdiction for the purposes of the case";
30. Whereas Germany contends that Article 38, paragraph 5,of the
Rules of Court is without effect in this case, because Germany does not
accept Yugoslavia's proposa1 to found the jurisdiction of the Court upon
a consent to be given in accordance with that Article;
31. Whereas it is quite clear that, in the absence of consent by Ger-
many, given pursuant to Article 38, paragraph 5, of the Rules, the Court
cannot exercise jurisdiction in the present case, even prima facie;
32. Whereas it follows from what has been said above that the Court
lacks prima faciejurisdiction to entertain Yugoslavia's Application; and
whereas it cannot therefore indicate any provisional measure whatsoever
in order to protect the rights invoked therein;
33. Whereas, however, the findings reached by the Court in the present
proceedings in no way prejudge the question of the jurisdiction of the
Court to deal with the merits of the case under Article IX of the Geno-
cide Convention, or any questions relating to the admissibility of the
Application, or relating to the merits themselves; and whereas they leave
unaffected the right of the Governments of Yugoslavia and Germany to
submit arguments in respect of those questions;
34. Whereas there is a fundamental distinction between the question
of the acceptance by a State of the Court's jurisdiction and the compat-
ibility of particular acts with international law; the former requires con-
sent; the latter question can only be reached when the Court deals with
the merits after having established its jurisdiction and having heard full
legal arguments by both parties; 35. Whereas, whether or nnt States accept the jurisdiction of the
Court, they remain in any event responsible for acts attributable to them
that violate international law. including humanitarian law; whereas any
disputes relating to the legality of such acts are required to be resolved
by peaceful means, the choice of which, pursuant to Article 33 of the
Charter, is left to the parties;
36. Whereas in this context the parties should take care not to aggra-
vate or extend the dispute;
37. Whereas, when such a dispute gives rise to a threat to the peace,
breach of the peace or act of aggression, the Security Council has special
responsibilitiesunder Chapter VI1 of the Charter;
38. For these reasons.
THE COURT,
(1) By twelve votes to three;
Rrjects the request for the indication of provisional measures submit-
ted by the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia on 29 April 1999;
IN FAVOUR:Vice-Presidcnt Weeramantry, Acting Piesident: Piesidcnt
Schwebel; Judges Oda, Bedjaoui, Guillaume, Ranjeva, Herczegh,
Fleischhauer, Koroma, Higgins,Parra-Aranguren, Kooijmans;
AGAINST :Judges Shi, Vereshchetin ;Judge ad hoc Kreca ;
(2) By fourteen votes to one;
Resrrvrs the subsequent procedure for further decision.
IN FAVOUR:Vicr-Prrsirlrnt Weeramantry, Acting Piesident; Pre.sident
Schwebel; Juclg~.~: Bedjaoui, Guillaume, Ranjeva, Herczegh, Shi,
Fleischhauer, Koroma. Vereshchetin, Higgins, Parra-Aranguren, Kooij-
mans; Judgr ad hoc KreCa;
AGAINST: Judge Oda.
Done in French and in English, the French text being authoritative, ai
the Peace Palace, The Hague, this second day of June, one thousand nine
hundred and ninety-nine. in three copies, one of which will be placed in
the archives of the Court and the others transmitted to the Government
of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and the Government of the Fed-
eral Republic of Germany. respectively.
(Signecl) Christopher G. WEERAMANTRY
Vice-President.
(Signrd) Eduardo VALENCXA-OSPINA,
Registrar. Vice-President WEERAMANTRY A,cting President.and Judges SHI,
KOROMA and VERESHCHETI append declarations to the Order of the
Court.
Judges ODAand PARRA-ARANGURa Eppend separate opinions to the
Order of the Court.
Judge ud hoc KRECAappends a dissenting opinion to the Order of the
Court.
(InitiullcdC.G.W.
(Initiullecl) E.V.O.
COUR INTERNATIONALE DE JUSTICE
RECUEIL DES ARRÊTS,
AVIS CONSULTATIFS ET ORDONNANCES
AFFAIRE RELATIVE À LA LICÉITÉ
DE L'EMPLOI DE LA FORCE
(YOUGOSLAVIE c. ALLEMAGNE)
DEMANDE EN INDICATION DE MESURES
CONSERVATOIRES
ORDONNANCE DU 2 JUIN 1999
INTERNATIONAL COURT OF JUSTICE
REPORTS OF JUDGMENTS,
ADVISORY OPINIONS AND ORDERS
CASE CONCERNING
LEGALITY OF USE OF FORCE
(YUGOSLAVIA v.GERMANY)
REQUEST FOR THE INDICATION OF PROVISIONAL
MEASURES
ORDER OF 2 JUNE 1999 Mode officiel de citation:
Licéitéde l'emploi de luforce (Yougosluvie c. Allrmugne),
nlesures conservutoir.es,ordonnance du 2 juin 1999,
C.I.J. Recueil 1999, p. 422
Officia1citat:on
Legality of'Uof Force(Yugoslaviv.Germany),
Provisionul Meusures, Ordrr of 2 June 1999,
IC.J. Rcjporfs199p.422
Noàevente: 730 1
ISSN 0074-4441 Sales number
ISBN 92-1-070798-2 2 JUIN 1999
ORDONNANCE
LICÉITÉ DE L'EMPLOI DE LA FORCE
(YOUGOSLAVIE c. ALLEMAGNE)
DEMANDE EN INDICATION DE MESURES
CONSERVATOIRES
LEGALITY OF USE OF FORCE
(YUGOSLAVIA v.GERMANY)
REQUEST FOR THE INDICATION OF PROVISIONAL
MEASURES
2 JUNE 1999
ORDER COUR INTERNATIONALE DE JUSTICE
1999 ANNEE 1999
2 juin
Rôle général
no 108 2 juin1999
AFFAIRE RELATIVE À LA LICÉITÉ
DE L'EMPLOI DE LA FORCE
(YOUGOSLAVIE c. ALLEMAGNE)
DEMANDE EN INDICATION DE MESURES
CONSERVATOIRES
ORDONNANCE
Présents:M. WEERAMANTR vi,e-président,fuisunt fonction de prési-
&nt en I'affuircM. SCHWEBEL président de la Cour;
MM. ODA,BEDJAOUG I,UILLAUM RE,NJEVA,HERCZEGH S,HI,
FLEISCHHAUER K,OROMA, VERESHCHETIN M,me HIGGIN~,
MM. PARRA-ARANGURK EO,OIJMAN Sges; M. KRECA uge
ad hoc; M. VALENCIA-OSPIN gAc,fie~.
La Cour internationale de Justice,
Ainsi composée,
Après délibéré echambre du conseil,
Vu les articles 41 et 48 du Statut de la Cour et le73et 74 de
son Règlement,
Vu la requêtedéposéepar la Républiquefédéralede Yougoslavie (ci-
aprèsdénomméela «Yougoslavie »)au Greffe de la Cour le 29 avril 1999,
par laquelle elleintroduit une instance contre la Républiquefédérale
d'Allemagne (ci-après dénommée 1'«Allemagn») «pour violation de
l'obligation de ne pas recourirmploi de la force»,
Rend l'ordonnanceuiwnfe: INTERNATIONAL COURT OF JUSTICE
YEAR 1999 1999
2June
General List
2 June 1999 No. 108
CASE CONCERNING
LEGALITY OF USE OF FORCE
(YUGOSLAVIA v.GERMANY)
REQUEST FOR THE INDICATION OF PROVISIONAL
MEASURES
ORDER
Present: Vice-PresidenWEERAMANTR Y ting Presidcnt ; President
SCHWEBEL Judges ODA, BEDJAOUIG , UILLAUMER , ANJEVA,
HERCZEGH,SHI, FLEISCHHAUER K,OROMA,VERESHCHETIN,
HIGGINSP,ARRA-ARANGCRK ENO,OIJMAN S;dgead hoc KRECA;
RegistruVALENCIA-OSPINA.
The International Court of Justice,
Composed as above,
After deliberation,
Having regard to Articles 41 andof the Statute of the Court and to
Articles 73 and 74 of thees of Court,
Having regard to the Application by the Federal Republic of Yugo-
slavia (hereinafter "Yugoslavia") filed in the Registry of the Court on
29 April 1999, instituting proceedings against the Federal Republic of
Germany (hereinafter "Germany") "for violation of the obligation not to
use force",
Mrrkes tlzeJolloii~ingOrder:423 LICÉITE DE L'EMPLOI DE LA FORCE (ORD.2 VI 99)
1. Considérant que, dans cette requête,la Yougoslavie définit l'objet
du différend ainsique suit:
((L'objet du différend porte sur les actes commis par la Répu-
blique fédéraled'Allemagne, en violation de son obligation interna-
tionale de ne pas recourir l'emploide la force contre un autre Etat,
de I'obligation de ne pas s'immiscerdans les affaires intérieuresd'un
autre Etat, de I'obligation de ne pas porter atteinte souveraineté
d'un autre Etat, de I'obligation de protégerles populations civileset
les biens de caractèrecivilen temps de guerre, de l'obligation de pro-
téger I'environnement,de I'obligation touchant à la libertéde navi-
gation sur lescours d'eau internationaux, de I'obligation concernant
lesdroits et libertésfondamentaux de la personne humaine, de l'obli-
gation de ne pas utiliser des armes interdites, de I'obligation de ne
pas soumettre intentionnellement un groupe national à des condi-
tions d'existence devant entraîner sa destruction physique));
2. Considérant que, dans ladite requête,la Yougoslavie, pour fonder
la compétencede la Cour, invoque l'article IX de la convention pour la
prévention et la répressiondu crime de génocide,adoptée par 1'Assem-
bléegénéraledes Nations Unies le 9 décembre1948(ci-aprèsdénommée
la ((convention sur le génocide)))et le paragraphe 5 de l'article 38 du
Règlementde la Cour;
3. Considérant que, dans sa requête,la Yougoslavie expose que les
demandes qu'elle soumet a la Cour sont fondéessur les faits ci-après:
LeGouvernement de la Républiquefédérale d'Allemagne, conjoin-
tement avec les gouvernements d'autres Etats membres de l'OTAN, a
recouru à l'emploide la force contre la Républiquefédéralede You-
goslavie en prenant part au bombardement de cibles dans la Répu-
blique fédéralde Yougoslavie. Lors des bombardements dela Répu-
blique fédéralede Yougoslavie, des cibles militaires et civilesont été
attaquées.Un grand nombre de personnes ont été tuées d,ont de très
nombreux civils. Desimmeubles d'habitation ont subi des attaques.
Un grand nombre d'habitations ont étédétruites. D'énormes dégâts
ontété causésà des écoles,des hôpitaux, des stations de radiodiffusion
et de télévision,es structures culturelles et sanitaires, ainsi qu'à des
lieux de culte. Nombre de wonts.routes et voies de chemin de fer ont
étédétruits.Lesattaques contre des raffineriesde pétrole et desusines
chimiquesont eu de graves effetsdommageablespour I'environnement
de villes et de villages de la République fédéralede Yougoslavie.
L'emploid'armescontenant de l'uraniumappauvri a de lourdesconsé-
quences pour la vie humaine. Les actes susmentionnésont pour effet
de soumettre intentionnellement un groupe ethniqueà des conditions
devant entraîner sa destruction physique totale ou partielle. Le Gou-
vernementde la Républiquefédérale d'Allemagnp erend partàI'entraî-
nement, à l'armement. au financement, à l'équipementet à l'approvi-
sionnement de la prétendue«armée delibérationdu Kosovo »; 1. Whereas in that Application Yugoslavia defines the subject of the
dispute as follows:
"The subject-matter of the dispute are acts of the Federal Repub-
lie of Germany by which it has violated its international obligation
banning the use of force against another State, the obligation not to
intervene in the interna1 affairs of another State, the obligation not
to violate the sovereignty of another State, the obligation to protect
the civilian population and civilianobjects in wartime, the obligation
to protect the environment, the obligation relating to free navigation
on international rivers, the obligation regarding fundamental human
rights and freedoms, the obligation not to use prohibited weapons,
the obligation not to deliberately inflict conditions of life calculated
to cause the physical destruction of a national group";
2. Whereas in the said Application Yugoslavia refers, as a basis for the
jurisdiction of the Court, to ArticleIX of the Convention on the Preven-
tion and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide, adopted by the General
Assembly of the United Nations on 9 December 1948 (hereinafter the
"Genocide Convention"), and to Article 38, paragraph 5, of the Rules of
Court ;
3. Whereas in its Application Yugoslavia states that the claims sub-
mitted by it to the Court are based upon the following facts:
"The Government of the Federal Republic of Germany, together
with the Governments of other Member States of NATO, took part
in the acts of use of force against the Federal Republic of Yugosla-
via by taking part in bombing targets in the Federal Republic of
Yugoslavia. In bombing the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia mili-
tary and civilian targets were attacked. Great number of people were
killed, including a great many civilians. Residential houses came
under attack. Numerous dwellings were destroyed. Enormous dam-
age was caused to schools, hospitals, radio and television stations,
cultural and health institutions and to places of worship. A large
number of bridges, roads and railway lines were destroyed. Attacks
on oil refineriesand chemical plants have had serious environmental
effects on cities, towns and villages in the Federal Republic ofugo-
slavia. The use of weapons containing depleted uranium is having
far-reaching consequences for human life.The above-mentioned acts
are deliberately creatingconditions calculated at the physical destruc-
tion of an etlinic group, in whole or in part. The Government of the
Federal Republic of Germany is taking part in the training, arming,
financing, equipping and supplying the so-called 'Kosovo Liberation
Army'";424 LICEITE DE L'EMPLOI DE LA FORCE (ORD. 2 VI 99)
et considérant qu'elle indique en outre que lesdites demandes reposent
sur les fondements juridiques suivants:
((Lesactes susmentionnésdu Gouvernement allemand constituent
une violation flagrante de l'obligation de ne pas recourir l'emploi
de la force contre un autre Etat. En finançant, armant, entraînant et
équipantla prétendue ((arméede libérationdu Kosovo)), le Gouver-
nement allemand apporte un appui à des groupes terroristes et au
mouvement sécessionnistesur le territoire de la Républiquefédérale
de Yougoslavie, en violation de l'obligation de ne pas s'immiscer
dans les affaires intérieures d'un autre Etat. De surcroît, les disposi-
tions de la convention de Genèvede 1949et du protocole addition-
nel no 1 de 1977 relativesà la protection des civils et des biens de
caractère civil en temps de guerre ont étéviolées.Il a eu aussi vio-
lation de l'obligation de protéger'environnement. La destruction de
ponts sur le Danube enfreint les dispositions de l'article 1 de la
convention de 1948relative à la libertéde navigation sur le Danube.
Les dispositions du pacte international relatif aux droits civils et
politiques et du pacte international relatif aux droits économiques,
sociaux et culturels de 1966 ont elles aussi étéviolées.En outre,
l'obligation énoncéedans la convention pour la prévention et la
répression du crime de génocide de ne pas soumettre intention-
nellement un erouDe national à des conditions d'existence devant
entraîner sa destruction physique a étéviolée.De plus, les activi-
tésauxquelles la République fédéraled'Allemagne prend part sont
contraires au paragraphe 1 de l'article 53 de la Charte des Nations
Unies );
4. Considérant que les demandes de la Yougoslavie sont ainsi formu-
léesdans la requête:
((Le Gouvernement de la Républiquefédérale de Yougoslavie prie
la Cour internationale de Justice de dire et juger:
- qu'en prenant part aux bombardements du territoire de la Répu-
blique fédéralede Yougoslavie, la République fédérale d'Alle-
magne a agi contre la République fédéralede Yougoslavie, en
violation de son obligation de ne pas recourir à l'emploi de la
force contre un autre Etat:
qu'en prenant part à l'entiaînement, à l'armement, au finance-
ment, à l'équipement età l'approvisionnement de groupes terro-
ristes,àsavoir la prétendue ((arméede libérationdu Kosovo)), la
République fédéraled'Allemagne a agi contre la République
fédérale de Yougoslavie, en violation de son obligation de ne pas
s'immiscer dans les affaires d'un autre Etat:
- qu'en prenant part à des attaques contre des cibles civiles, la
République fédéraled'Allemagne a agi contre la République
fédéralede Yougoslavie, en violation de son obligation d'épar-
gner la population civile, les civils et les biens de caractère civil;and whereas it further states that the said claims are based on the follow-
ing legal grounds:
"The above acts of the Government of the Federal Republic of
Germany represent a gross violation of the obligation not to use
force against another State. Byfinancing, arming,training and equip-
ping the so-called 'Kosovo Liberation Army', support isgiven to ter-
rorist groups and the secessionist movement in the territory of the
Federal Republic of Yugoslavia in breach of the obligation not to
intervene in the interna] affairs of another State. In addition, the
provisions of the Geneva Convention of 1949and of the Additional
Protocol No. 1 of 1977 on the protection of civilians and civilian
objects in time of war have been violated. The obligation to protect
the environment has also been breached. The destruction of bridges
on the Danube is in contravention of the provisions of Article 1of
the 1948Convention on free navigation on the Danube. The provi-
sions of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights
and of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cul-
tural Rights of 1966have also been breached. Furthermore, the obli-
gation contained in the Convention on the Prevention and Punish-
ment of the Crime of Genocide not to impose deliberately on a
national group conditions of lifecalculated to bring about the physi-
cal destruction of the group has been breached. Furthermore, the
activities in which the Federal Republic of Germany is taking part
are contrary to Article 53, paragraph 1,of the Charter of the United
Nations" ;
4. Whereas the claims of Yugoslavia are formulated as follows in the
Application :
"The Government of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia requests
the International Court of Justice to adjudge and declare:
- by taking part in the bombing of the territory of the Federal
Republic of Yugoslavia, the Federal Republic of Germany has
acted against the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia in breach of its
obligation not to use force against another State;
- by taking part in the training, arming, financing, equipping and
supplying terrorist groups, i.e. the so-called 'Kosovo Liberation
Army', the Federal Republic of Germany has acted against the
Federal Republic of Yugoslavia in breach of its obligation not to
intervene in the affairs of another State;
- by taking part in attacks on civilian targets, the Federal Repub-
lie of Germany has acted against the Federal Republic of Yugo-
slavia in breach of its obligation to spare the civilian population,
civilians and civilian objects;425 LICEITÉ DE L'EMPLOI DE LA FORCE (ORD. 2 VI 99)
- qu'en prenant part a la destruction ou à l'endommagement de
monastères, d'édificesculturels, la République fédéraled'Alle-
magne a agi contre la République fédéralede Yougoslavie, en
violation de son obligation de ne pas commettre d'actes d'hosti-
lité dirigéscontre des monuments historiques, des Œuvresd'art
ou des lieux de culte constituant le patrimoine culturel ou spiri-
tuel d'un peuple;
- qu'en prenant part à l'utilisation de bombes en grappe, la Répu-
blique fédéraled'Allemagne a agi contre la Républiquefédérale
de Yougoslavie, en violation de son obligation de ne pas utiliser
des armes interdites, c'est-à-dire des armes denature causer des
maux superflus;
qu'en prenant part aux bombardements de raffineries de pétrole
et d'usines chimiques, la Républiquefédéraled'Allemagne a agi
contre la République fédéralede Yougoslavie, en violation de
son obligation de ne pas causer de dommages substantiels à
I'environnement ;
qu'en recourant à l'utilisation d'armes contenant de l'uranium
appauvri, la République fédérale d'Allemagnea agi contre la
Républiquefédéralede Yougoslavie, en violation de son obliga-
tion de ne pas utiliser des armes interdites et de ne pas causer de
dommages de grande ampleur a la santéet à I'environnement;
qu'en prenant part au meurtre de civils,Ala destruction d'entre-
prises, de moyens de communication et de structures sanitaires et
culturelles, laRépublique fédérale d'Allemagnea agi contre la
Républiquefédéralede Yougoslavie, en violation de son obliga-
tion de respecter le droità la vie, le droit au travail, le droàt
l'information, le droit aux soins de santéainsi que d'autres droits
fondamentaux de la personne humaine;
qu'en prenant part à la destruction de ponts situéssur des cours
d'eau internationaux, la Républiquefédéraled'Allemagne a agi
contre la République fédéralede Yougoslavie, en violation de
son obligation de respecter la libertéde navigation sur les cours
d'eau internationaux ;
qu'en prenant part aux activitésénuméréec si-dessus et en parti-
culier en causant des dommagesénormes à l'environnement et en
utilisant de l'uranium appauvri, la République fédérale d'Alle-
magne a agi contre la République fédéralede Yougoslavie, en
violation de son obligation de ne pas soumettre intentionnelle-
ment un groupe national à des conditions d'existence devant
entraîner sa destruction physique totale ou partielle;
que la Républiquefédéraled'Allemagne porte la responsabilité
de la violation des obligations internationales susmentionnées;
que la Républiquefédéraled'Allemagne est tenue de mettre fin
immédiatement à la violation des obligations susmentionnées A
l'égardde la Républiquefédéralede Yougoslavie;
que la Républiquefédérale d'Allemagne doit réparation pour les by taking part in destroying or damaging monasteries, monu-
ments of culture, the Federal Republic of Germany has acted
against the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia in breach of its obli-
gation not to commit any act of hostility directed against histori-
cal monuments, works of art or places of worship which consti-
tute cultural or spiritual heritage of people;
- by taking part in the use of cluster bombs, the Federal Republic
of Germany has acted against the Federal Republic of Yugosla-
via in breach of its obligation not to use prohibited weapons, i.e.
weapons calculated to cause unnecessary suffering;
- by taking part in the bombing of oil refineries and chemical
plants, the Federal Republic of Germany has acted against the
Federal Republic of Yugoslavia in breach of its obligation not to
cause considerable environmental damage;
- by taking part in the use of weapons containing depleted ura-
nium, the Federal Republic of Germany has acted against the
Federal Republic of Yugoslavia in breach of its obligation not to
use prohibited weapons and not to cause far-reaching health and
environmental damage", :
by taking part in killing civilians,destroying enterprises, commu-
nications, health and cultural institutions, the Federal Republic
of Germany has acted against the Federal Republic of Yugosla-
via in breach of its obligation to respect the right to life,the right
to work, the right to information, the right to health care as well
as other basic human rights;
- by taking part in destroying bridges on international rivers, the
Federal Republic of Germany has acted against the Federal
Republic of Yugoslavia in breach of its obligation to respect
freedom of navigation on international rivers;
- by taking part in activities listed above, and in particular by
causing enormous environmental damage and by using depleted
uranium, the Federal Republic of Germany has acted against the
Federal Republic of Yugoslavia in breach of its obligation not to
deliberately inflict on a national group conditions of life calcu-
lated to bring about its physical destruction, in whole or in part;
- the Federal Republic of Germany is responsible for the violation
of the above international obligations;
- the Federal Republic of Germany is obliged to stop immediately
the violation of the above obligations vis-à-visthe Federal Repu-
blic of Yugoslavia ;
- the Federal Republic of Germany is obliged to provide compen- préjudicescausés à la Républiquefédéralede Yougoslavie ainsi
qu'à ses citoyens et personnes morales));
et considérant qu'au terme de sa requêtela Yougoslavie se réservele
droit de modifier et de complétercelle-ci;
5. Considérant que, le 29 avril 1999,immédiatementaprèsle dépôtde
sa requête,la Yougoslavie a en outre présentéune demande en indication
de mesures conservatoires invoquant l'article 73 du Règlement de la
Cour; et que la demande était accompagnée d'un volume d'annexes pho-
tographiques produites à titre de ((preuves));
6. Considérant que, à l'appui de sa demande en indication de mesures
conservatoires, la Yougoslavie soutient notamment que, depuis le début
des bombardements contre son territoire, et du fait de ceux-ci, environ
mille civils,dont dix-neuf enfants, ont été tués eptlus dequatre millecinq
cents grièvement blessés;que la vie de trois millions d'enfants est mena-
cée;que des centaines de milliers de personnes ont étéexposées àdes gaz
toxiques; qu'environ un million de personnes sont privéesd'approvision-
nement en eau; qu'environ cinq cent mille travailleurs ont perdu leur
emploi; que deux millions de personnes sont sans ressources et dans
l'impossibilitéde se procurer le minimum vital; et que les réseauxroutier
et ferroviaire ont subi d'importants dégâts; considérantque, dans sa de-
mande en indication de mesures conservatoires, la Yougoslavie énumère
par ailleurs les cibles qui auraient étéviséespar les attaques aériennes et
décriten détailles dommages qui leur auraient étéinfligés(ponts, gares
et lignes de chemins de fer, réseauroutier et moyens de transport, aéro-
ports, commerce et industrie, raffineries et entrepôts de matières pre-
mières liquideset de produits chimiques, agriculture, hôpitaux et centres
médicaux,écoles, édificep sublics et habitations, infrastructures, télécom-
munications, monuments historiques et culturels et édificesreligieux); et
considérant que la Yougoslavie en conclut ce qui suit:
«Les actes décrits ci-dessus ont causé des morts ainsi que des
atteintesà l'intégritéphysique et mentale de la population de la
Républiquefédéralede Yougoslavie, de trèsimportants dégâts, une
forte pollution de l'environnement, de sorte que la population you-
goslave se trouve soumiseintentionnellement a des conditions d'exis-
tence devant entraîner la destruction physique totale ou partielle de
ce groupe));
7. Considérant que, au terme de sa demande en indication de mesures
conservatoires, la Yougoslavie préciseque
«Si les mesures demandéesne sont pas adoptées,il y aura de nou-
velles pertes en vies humaines, de nouvelles atteintes à l'intégrité
physique et mentale de la population de la République fédéralede
Yougoslavie, d'autres destructions de cibles civiles,une forte pollu-
tion de l'environnement et la poursuite de la destruction physique de
la population de Yougoslavie)); sation for the damage done to the Federal Republic of Yugosla-
via and to its citizens and juridical persons";
and whereas, at the end of its Application, Yugoslavia reserves the right
to amend and supplement it;
5. Whereas on 29 April 1999,immediately after filing its Application,
Yugoslavia also submitted a request for the indication of provisional
measures pursuant to Article 73 of the Rules of Court; and whereas that
request was accompanied by a volume of photographie annexes pro-
duced as "evidence" ;
6. Whereas, in support of its request for the indication of provisional
measures. Yugoslavia contends inter uliu that, since the onset of the
bombing of its territory, and as a result thereof, about 1,000 civilians,
includine 19 children. have been killed and more than 4.500 have sus-
tained serious injuries; that the lives of three million children are endan-
gered; that hundreds of thousands of citizens have been exposed to poi-
sonous gases; that about one million citizens are short of water supply;
that about 500,000 workers have become jobless; that two million citi-
zens have no means of livelihood and are unable to ensure minimum
means of sustenance; and that the road and railway network has suffered
extensive destruction; whereas, in its request for the indication of provi-
sional measures, Yugoslavia also lists the targets alleged to have come
under attack in the air strikes and describes in detail the damage alleged
to have been inflicted upon them (bridges, railway lines and stations,
roads and means of transport, airports, industry and trade, refineries and
warehouses storing liquid raw materials and chemicals, agriculture, hos-
pitals and health care centres, schools, public buildings and housing
f'acilities,infrastructure, telecommunications, cultural-historical monu-
ments and religious shrines); and whereas Yugoslavia concludes from
this that:
"The acts described above caused death, physical and mental
harm to the population of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia; huge
devastation; heavy pollution of the environment, so that the Yugo-
slav population is deliberately imposed conditions of life calculated
to bring about physical destruction of the group, in whole or in
part" ;
7. Whereas, at the end of its request for the indication of provisional
measures, Yugoslavia States that
"If the proposed measure were not to be adopted, there will be
new losses of human life, further physical and mental harm inflicted
on the population of the FR of Yugoslavia, further destruction of
civilian targets, heavy environmental pollution and further physical
destruction of the people of Yugoslavia";et considérant que, tout en se réservantle droit de modifier et de com-
plétersa demande, elle prie la Cour d'indiquer la mesure suivante:
«La Républiquefédéraled'Allemagne doit cesser immédiatement
de recourir a l'emploi de la force et doit s'abstenir detout acte cons-
tituant une menace de recours ou un recours a l'emploi de la force
contre la Républiquefédéralede Yougoslavie));
8. Considérant que la demande en indication de mesures conserva-
toires était accompagnéed'une lettre de l'agent de la Yougoslavie, adres-
séeau président etaux membres de la Cour, qui étaitainsi libellée:
«J'ai l'honneur d'appeler l'attention de la Cour sur le dernier
bombardement qui a frappé le centre de la ville de Surdulica le
27 avril 1999 àmidi et entraînéla mort de civils, pour la plupart des
enfants et des femmes, et de vous rappeler les morts de Kursumlija,
Aleksinac et Cuprija, ainsi que le bombardement d'un convoi de
réfugiéset de l'immeuble abritant la radio et la télévisionserbes,
pour neciter que quelques exemplesdesatrocitésque chacunconnaît.
Je tiens en conséquence a prévenirla Cour qu'il est fort probable
qu'ily aura encore d'autres victimes civiles et militaires.
Considérant le pouvoir conféré à la Cour aux termes du para-
graphe 1 de I'article 75 de son Règlement, et compte tenu de I'ex-
trêmeurgence de la situation née descirconstances décritesdans les
demandes en indication de mesures conservatoires, je prie la Cour
de bien vouloir se prononcer d'office sur les demandes présentées
ou de fixer une date pour la tenue d'une audience dans les meilleurs
délais»;
9. Considérant que le 29 avril 1999, date a laquelle la requêteet la
demande en indication de mesures conservatoires ont été déposéeasu
Greffe, le greffier a fait tenir au Gouvernement allemand des copies
signéesde la requête etde la demande,conformément au paragraphe 4 de
I'article8 et au paragraphe 2 de l'article 73 du Règlementde la Cour; et
qu'il a égalementfait tenir audit gouvernement une copie des documents
qui accompagnaient la requêteet la demande en indication de mesures
conservatoires ;
10. Considérant que, le 29avril 1999,le greffier a aviséles Parties que
la Cour avait décidé,conformément au paragraphe 3 de I'article 74 de
son Règlement, de tenir audience les 10 et 11 mai 1999 aux fins de les
entendre en leurs observations sur la demande en indication de mesures
conservatoires :
11. Considérantqu'enattendantque la communication prévueau para-
graphe 3de I'article40 du Statut et a I'article 42du Règlementde la Cour
ait étéeffectuéepar transmission du texte bilingue impriméde la requête
aux Membres des Nations Unies et aux autres Etats admis a ester devant
la Cour, le greffier a, le 29 avril 1999,informéces Etats du dépôtde la
requête etde son objet, ainsi que du dépôtde la demande en indication
de mesures conservatoires;and whereas, while reserving the right to amend and supplement its
request, Yugoslavia requests the Court to indicate the following measure:
"The Federal Republic of Germany shall cease immediately its
acts of use of force and shall refrain from any act of threat or use of
force against the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia";
8. Whereas the request for the indication of provisional measures was
accompanied by a letter from the Agent of Yugoslavia, addressed to the
President and Members of the Court, which read as follows:
"1 have the honour to bring to the attention of the Court the latest
bombing of the central area of the town of Surdulica on 27 April
1999at noon resulting in losses of lives of civilians, most of whom
were children and women, and to remind of killings of peoples in
Kursumlija, Aleksinac and Cuprija, as well as bombing of a refugee
convov and the Radio and Television of Serbia. iust t3 .Jntion
some of the well-known atrocities. Therefore, 1 would like to caution
the Court that there is a highest probability of further civilian and
military casualties.
Considering the power conferred upon the Court by Article 75,
paragraph 1, of the Rules of Court and having in mind the greatest
urgency caused by the circumstances described in the Requests for
provisional measure of protection 1 kindly ask the Court to decide
on the submitted Requests proprio nlotu or to fixa date for a hearing
at earliest possible time";
9. Whereas on 29 April 1999, the day on which the Application and
the request for the indication of provisional measures were filed in the
Registry, the Registrar sent to the German Government signed copies of
the Application and of the request, in accordance with Article 38, para-
graph 4, and Article 73, paragraph 2, of the Rules of Court; and whereas
he also sent to that Government copies of the documents accompanying
the Application and the request for the indication of provisional meas-
ures;
10. Whereas on 29 April 1999the Registrar informed the Parties that
the Court had decided, pursuant to Article 74, paragraph 3, of the Rules
of Court, to hold hearings on 10and 11May 1999,where they would be
able to present their observations on the request for the indication of pro-
visional measures ;
II. Whereas, pending the notification under Article 40, paragraph 3,
of the Statute and Article 42 of the Rules of Court, by transmittal of the
printed bilingual text of the Application to the Members of the United
Nations and other States entitled to appear before the Court, the Regis-
trar on 29 April 1999informed those States of the filing of the Applica-
tion and of its subject-matter, and of the filing of the request for the
indication of provisional measures; 12. Considérant que, la Cour ne comptant pas sur le siègede juge de
nationalité yougoslave,le Gouvernement yougoslave a invoquéles dispo-
sitions de l'article 31du Statut de la Cour et a désigM. Milenko KreCa
pour siégeren qualitéde juge ad hoc en l'affaire; et qu'aucune objection
à cette désignation n'a étésoulevéedans le délaifixé A cet effet en vertu
du paragraphe 3 de l'article 35 du Règlementde la Cour;
13. Considérant que, aux audiences publiques qui ont été tenuesentre
le 10et le 12mai 1999,des observations orales sur la demande en indica-
tion de mesures conservatoires ont été présentées:
au nom de lu Yougoslavie:
par M. Rodoljub Etinski, agent,
M. Ian Brownlie,
M. Paul J. 1.M. de Waart,
M. Eric Suy,
M. Miodrag MitiC,
M. Olivier Corten ;
au nom de I'Alletnagne
par M. Gerhard Westdickenberg, agent,
M. Reinhard Hilger, coagent;
14. Considérant que, dans cette phase de la procédure,les Parties ont
présentéles conclusions suivantes:
au nom de lu Yougosluvie.
«[L]aCour [est priée]d'indiquer la mesure conservatoire suivante:
[L]a République fédéraled'Allemagne ..doi[t] cesser immédiate-
ment de recourir àl'emploide la force et doi[t]s'abstenir detout acte
constituant une menace de recours ou un recours à l'emploi de la
force contre la Républiquefédéralede Yougoslavie»;
au nom de l'Allemagne:
«[L]a Républiquefédérale d'Allemagneprie respectueusement la
Cour de refuser d'indiquer les mesures conservatoires demandées
par la Républiquefédéralede Yougoslavie)>;
15. Considérant que la Cour est profondément préoccupéepar le
drame humain, les pertes en vieshumaines et lesterribles souffrances que
connaît le Kosovo et qui constituent la toile de fond du présent différend,
ainsi que par les victimes et les souffrances humaines que l'on déplorede
façon continue dans l'ensemble de la Yougoslavie;
16. Considérant que la Cour est fortement préoccupéepar l'emploi de
la force en Yougoslavie; que, dans les circonstances actuelles, cet emploi
soulèvedes problèmes très gravesde droit international; 12. Whereas, since the Court includes upon the bench no judge of
Yugoslav nationality, the Yugoslav Government has availed itself of the
provisions of Article 31 of the Statute of the Court to choose Mr.
Milenko Kreéato sit as judge UL I10~.in the case; and whereas no objec-
tion to that choice was raised within the time-limit fixed for the purpose
pursuant to Article 35, paragraph 3, of the Rules of Court;
13. Whereas, at the public hearings held between 10and 12May 1999,
oral observations on the request for the indication of provisional meas-
ures were presented by the following:
On behaif qf'Yugoslui~iu:
Mr. Rodoljub Etinski, Agent,
Mr. Ian Brownlie,
Mr. Paul J.1. M. de Waart,
Mr. Eric Suy,
Mr. Miodrag MitiL,
Mr. Olivier Corten;
On helz~lifof Gcrmany .
Mr. Gerhard Westdickenberg, Agent,
Mr. Reinhard Hilger, Co-Agent;
14. Whereas, in this phase of the proceedings, the Parties presented the
following submissions :
On behuif of Y~rgoslaviu.
"[Tlhe Court [isasked] to indicate the following provisional meas-
ure :
[Tlhe Federal Republic of Germany . . .shall cease immediately
the acts of use of force and shall refrain from any act of threat or use
of force against the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia";
On behuif of Germuny .
"That the Court decline to indicate the provisional measures
requested by the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia";
15. Whereas the Court is deeply concerned with the human tragedy,
the loss of life, and the enormous suffering in Kosovo which form the
background of the present dispute, and with the continuing loss of life
and human suffering in al1parts of Yugoslavia;
16. Whereas the Court is profoundly concerned with the use of force
in Yugoslavia; whereas under the present circumstances such use raises
very serious issues of international law;429 LICÉITE DE L'EMPLOI DE LA FORCE (ORD. 2 VI 99)
17. Considérant que la Cour garde présents à l'esprit les buts et les
principes de la Charte des Nations Unies, ainsi que lesresponsabilitésqui
lui incombent, en vertu de ladite Charte et du Statut de la Cour, dans le
maintien de la paix et de la sécurité;
18. Considérant que la Cour estime nécessairede souligner que toutes
les parties qui se présententdevant elledoivent agir conformément à leurs
obligations en vertu de la Charte des Nations Unies et des autres règles
du droit international,y compris du droit humanitaire;
19. Considérant qu'en vertu de son Statut la Cour n'a pas automati-
quement compétencepour connaître des différends juridiques entre les
Etats parties audit Statut ou entre les autres Etats qui ont étéadmis a
ester devant elle; que la Cour a déclaré àmaintes reprises «que l'un des
principes fondamentaux de son Statut est qu'ellene peut trancher un dif-
férendentre des Etats sans que ceux-ci aient consenti a sa juridiction))
(Tiinor oriental (Portugal c. Ausfralic), urrêC.1.J.Recueil 1995, p. 101,
par. 26); et que la Cour ne peut donc exercer sa compétence à l'égard
d7Etats parties a un différendque si ces derniers ont non seulement accès
à la Cour, mais ont en outre accepté sa compétence,soit d'une manière
générale,soit pour le différendparticulier dont il s'agit;
20. Considérant que, en présence d'une demande en indication de
mesures conservatoires, point n'est besoin pour la Cour, avant de décider
d'indiquer ou non de telles mesures, de s'assurer de manière définitive
qu'elle a compétencequant au fond de l'affaire, mais qu'ellene peut indi-
quer ces mesures que si lesdispositions invoquéespar le demandeur sem-
blent prima facie constituer une base sur laquelle la compétence de la
Cour pourrait être fondée;
21. Considérant que la Yougoslavie, dans sa requête, prétenden pre-
mier lieu fonder la compétencede la Cour sur l'article IXde la conven-
tion sur le génocide,aux termes duquel:
«Les différendsentre les Parties contractantes relatifà l'interpré-
tation, l'application ou l'exécutionde la présenteconvention,y com-
pris ceux relatifs la responsabilitéd'un Etat en matièrede génocide
ou de l'un quelconque des autres actesénuméré s l'article III, seront
soumis a la Cour internationale de Justice,à la requêted'une partie
au différend»;
et considérant que, dans sa requête,la Yougoslavie indique que l'objet du
différendporte notammentsur «les actes commis par la Républiquefédé-
rale d'Allemagne, enviolation de son obligation internationale ..de ne
pas soumettre intentionnellement un groupe national a des conditions 17. Whereas the Court is mindful of the purposes and principles of the
United Nations Charter and of its own responsibilities in the mainte-
nance of peace and security under the Charter and the Statute of the
Court;
18. Whereas the Court deems it necessary to emphasize that al1parties
appearing before it must act in conformity with their obligations under
the United Nations Charter and other rules of international law, includ-
ing humanitarian law;
19. Whereas the Court, under its Statute, does not automatically have
jurisdiction over legal disputes between States parties to that Statute or
between other States to whom access to the Court has been granted;
whereas the Court has repeatedly stated "that one of the fundamental
principles of its Statute is that it cannot decide a dispute between States
without the consent of those States to itsjurisdiction" (Eust Tit71or(Por-
tugal v. Austrulia), Judgment. I. C. J. Reports 1995, p. 101,para. 26);and
whereas the Court can therefore exercisejurisdiction only between States
parties to a dispute who not only have access to the Court but also have
accepted the jurisdiction of the Court, either in general form or for the
individual dispute concerned;
20. Whereas on a request for provisional measures the Court need not,
before deciding whether or not to indicate them, finally satisfy itself that
it has jurisdiction on the merits of the case, yet it ought not to indicate
such measures unless the provisions invoked by the applicant appear,
prima facie, to afford a basis on which thejurisdiction of the Court might
be established:
21. Whereas in its Application Yugoslavia claims in the first place to
found the jurisdiction of the Court on Article IX of the Genocide Con-
vention, which provides:
"Disputes between the Contracting Parties relating to the interpre-
tation, application or fulfilment of the present Convention, including
those relating to the responsibility of a State for genocide or for any
of the other acts enumerated in article III, shall be submitted to the
International Court of Justice at the request of any of the parties to
the dispute";
and whereas in its Application Yugoslavia States that the subject of the
dispute concerns inter aliu"acts of the Federal Republic of Germany by
which it has violated its international obligation . . .not to deliberately
inflict conditions of life calculated to cause the physical destruction of a430 LICEITÉ DE L'EMPLOI DE LA FORCE (ORD. 2 VI 99)
d'existence devant entraîner sa destruction physique)); qu'en décrivant
les faits sur lesquels la requêteest fondée,la Yougoslavie précise:«Les
actes susmentionnés ont pour effet de soumettre intentionnellement un
groupe ethnique àdes conditions devant entraîner sa destruction physique
totale ou partielle)); qu'en exposant les fondements juridiques de la
requête,elle soutient que «l'obligation...de ne pas soumettre intention-
nellement un groupe national a des conditions d'existence devant entraî-
ner sa destruction physique a été violée))e;t que l'une des demandes au
fond contenues dans la requêteest ainsi formulée:
«qu'en prenant part aux activitésénuméréec si-dessus et en parti-
culier en causant des dommagesénormesa I'environnement et en uti-
lisant de l'uranium appauvri, la Républiquefédéraled'Allemagne a
agi contre la République fédéralede Yougoslavie, en violation de
son obligation de ne pas soumettre intentionnellement un groupe
national àdes conditions d'existencedevant entraîner sa destruction
physique totale ou partielle));
22. Considérant que la Yougoslavie soutient en outre que le bombar-
dement constant et intensif de l'ensemble de son territoire, y compris les
zones les plus peuplées,constitue«une violation grave de I'article II de la
convention sur le génocide));qu'elle faitvaloir que «la pollution du sol,
de l'air et de l'eau, la destruction de l'économiedu pays, la contamination
de I'environnement par de l'uranium appauvri reviennent à soumettre la
nation yougoslave à des conditions d'existence devant entraîner sa des-
truction physique)); qu'elle affirme que c'est la nation yougoslave tout
entière, en tant que telle, qui est prise pour cible; et qu'elle souligne que
le recoursà certaines armes, dont on connaît par avance lesconséquences
dommageables à long terme sur la santéet I'environnement, ou la des-
truction de la plus grande partie du réseaud'alimentation en électricité
du pays, dont on peut prévoir d'avancelesconséquencescatastrophiques,
«témoigne[nt]implicitement de l'intention de détruiretotalement ou par-
tiellement)) le groupe national yougoslave en tant que tel;
23. Considérant que l'Allemagne soutient pour sa part que l'article IX
de la convention sur le génocidene constitue pas une base de compétence
en l'espèce,parce que l'objet desdemandes présentéespar la Yougoslavie
n'a pas trait à ((l'interprétation, l'application ou l'exécutionde la ...
convention, y compris [lesdifférends] relatifà la responsabilité d'unEtat
en matière de génocideou de l'un quelconque des autres actes énumérés
a l'article 111[de laconvention])); et que l'Allemagnefait aussi valoir que,
mêmesi elles étaientavérées,les violations d'obligations internationales
qu'allèguela Yougoslavie dans sa requête n'entrent pasdans lechampde
la définitiondonnée à I'article II de la convention sur le génocide;
24. Considérant qu'il n'est pas contestéque tant la Yougoslavie que
l'Allemagne sont parties a la convention sur le génocide,sans réserves;et
que l'articleIX de la convention semble ainsi constituer une base sur
laquelle la compétencede la Cour pourrait êtrefondée,pour autant que
l'objet du différendait traità ((l'interprétation,l'application ou I'exécu-national group"; whereas, in describing the facts on which the Applica-
tion is based, Yugoslavia States: "The above-mentioned acts are deliber-
ately creating conditions calculated at the physical destruction of an
ethnie group, in whole or in part"; whereas, in its statement of the legal
grounds on which the Application is based, Yugoslavia contends that
"the obligation . . not to impose deliberately on a national group con-
ditions of life calculated to bring about the physical destruction of the
group has been breached"; and whereas one of the claims on the merits
set out in the Application is formulated as follows:
"by taking part in activities listed above, and in particular by
causing enormous environmental damage and by using depleted
uranium, the Federal Republic of Germany has acted against the
Federal Republic of Yugoslavia in breach of its obligation not to
deliberately inflict on a national group conditions of life calculated
to bring about its physical destruction, in whole or in part";
22. Whereas Yugoslavia contends moreover that the sustained and
intensive bombing of the whole of its territory, including the most heavily
populated areas, constitutes "a serious violation of Article II of the
Genocide Convention"; whereas it argues that "the pollution of soil, air
and water. destroying the economy of the country, contaminating the
environment with depleted uranium, inflicts conditions of life on the
Yugoslav nation calculated to bring about its physical destruction";
whereas it asserts that itis the Yugoslav nation as a whole and as such
that is targeted; and whereas it stresses that the use of certain weapons
whose long-term hazards to health and the environment are already
known, and the destruction of the largest part of the country's power
supply system, with catastrophic consequences of which the Respondent
must be aware, "impl[y] the intent to destroy, in whole or in part. the
Yugoslav national group as such;
23. Whereas for its part Germany contends that Article 1X of the
Genocide Convention does not constitute a basis of jurisdiction in this
case, because the subject-matter of the claims brought by Yugoslavia
does not relate to "the interpretation, application or fulfilment of the
Convention, includingdisputes relating to the responsibility of a Statefor
genocide or for any of the other acts enumerated in Article III of the
Convention"; and whereas Germany also maintains that even if true, the
breaches of international obligations alleged by Yugoslavia in its Appli-
cation do not enter the definition of Article II of the Genocide Conven-
tion ;
24. Whereas it is not disputed that both Yugoslavia and Germany are
parties to the Genocide Convention without reservation; and whereas
Article IX of the Convention accordingly appears to constitute a basis on
which the jurisdiction of the Court might be founded to the extent that
the subject-matter of the dispute relates to "the interpretation, applica-431 LICÉITÉ DE L'EMPLOIDE LA FORCE (ORD. 2 VI 99)
tien» de la convention, y compris les différends((relatifs à la responsa-
bilitéd'un Etat en matière de génocideou de l'un quelconque des autres
actes énumérés à I'article II))de ladite convention;
25. Considérant que, à l'effet d'établir,même prirnufacie, si un diffé-
rend au sens de l'article IX de la convention sur le génocide existe,la
Cour ne peut se borner iiconstater que l'une desparties soutient que la
convention s'applique alors que l'autre le nie; et que, au cas particulier,
elledoit rechercher si lesviolationsde la convention alléguées par la You-
goslavie sont susceptibles d'entrer dans les prévisionsde cet instrument et
si, par suite, le différend estde ceux dont la Cour pourrait avoir compé-
tence pour connaître rutione r?~uteriaepar application de I'article IX
(cf.Plates-f0rme.s pétrolièr,es(République islumique d'Iran c. Etats-Unis
d'A~nérique). exception préliminaire, urrêt, C. I.J. Recueil 1996 (II),
p. 810, par. 16);
26. Considérant que la définitiondu génocide,figurant àI'articleII de
la convention sur le génocide,se lit comme suit:
((Dans la présenteconvention le génocide s'entendde l'un quel-
conque des actes ci-après, commis dans l'intention de détruire, en
tout ou en partie, un groupe national, ethnique, racial ou religieux,
comme tel:
u) meurtre de membres du groupe;
6) atteinte grave à l'intégrité physiqueou mentale de membres du
groupe ;
c) soumission intentionnelle du groupe à des conditions d'existence
devant entraîner sa destruction physique totale ou partielle;
d) mesures visant à entraver les naissances au sein du groupe;
el transfert forcéd'enfants du groupe à un autre groupe));
27. Considérant qu'il apparaît à la Cour, d'aprèscette définition,((que
la caractéristique essentielle du génocideest la destruction intentionnelle
d'un ((groupe national, ethnique, racial ou religieux)))(Applicution de la
convention pour laprévention et la répressiondu crime de génocide,me-
sures conservatoires, ordonnunce du 13 septembre 1993, C.I. J. Recueil
1993, p. 345, par. 42); que le recours ou la menace du recours à I'em-
ploi de la force contre un Etat ne sauraient en soi constituer un acte de
génocideau sens de I'article II de la convention sur le génocide;et que,
de l'avisde la Cour, il n'apparaît pas au présentstade de la procédureque
les bombardements qui constituent l'objet de la requêteyougoslave
«comporte[nt] effectivement l'élémend t 'intentionnalité, dirigécontre un
groupe comme tel, que requiert la disposition sus-citée» (Licéitéde lu
nlenuce ou de I'ernploid'urnles nircléuire.~u,i1i.sconsultutij;IJ. Recueil
1996 (11, p. 240, par. 26);
28. Considérant quela Cour n'est dèslors pas en mesure de conclure,
à ce stade de la procédure. que les actes que la Yougoslavie impute au
défendeur seraient susceptibles d'entrer dans les prévisionsde la conven-
tion sur le génocide;et que I'article IX de la convention, invoquépar lation or fulfilment" of the Convention, including disputes "relating to the
responsibility of a State for genocide or for any of the other actsenumer-
ated in article III" of the said Convention;
25. Whereas, in order to determine, even prima facie, whether a dis-
pute within the meaning of Article IX of the GenocideConvention exists,
the Court cannot limit itself to noting that one of the Parties maintains
that the Convention applies, while the other denies it; and whereas in the
present case the Court must ascertain whether the breaches of the Con-
vention alleged byYugoslavia are capableof falling within the provisions
of that instrument and whether, as a consequence, the dispute is one
which the Court has jurisdiction rationr materiu~ to entertain pursuant
to Article IX (cf.Oil Plutforrî1s(Islutîzic Repuhlic of Irav. United Stutes
of Amrricu), Preliminury Objection, Judgment, I.C.J. Reports 1996 (II),
p. 810, para. 16);
26. Whereas the definition of genocide set out in Article II of the
Genocide Convention reads as follows:
"ln the present Convention, genocide means any of the following
actscommitted with intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national,
ethnical, racial or religious group, assuch:
(a) Killing members of the group;
(b) Causing serious bodily or mental harm to members of the
group;
(c) Deliberately inflicting on the group conditionsof lifecalculated
to bring about its physical destruction in whole or in part;
(d) Imposing measures intended to prevent births within the group;
(e) Forcibly transferring children of the group to another group";
27. Whereas it appears to the Court, from this definition, "that [the]
essential characteristic [of genocide] is the intended destruction of 'a
national, ethnical, racial or religious group'"(Applicution of the Conven-
tion on the Prevention und Punishment of the Crime of Genocide, Provi-
sionul Meusures, Order of 13 September 1993, I. C.J. Reports 1993,
p. 345, para. 42); whereas the threat or use of force against a State can-
not in itselfconstitute an act of genocide within the meaning of Article Il
of the Genocide Convention; and whereas, in the opinion of theCourt, it
does not appear at the present stage ofthe proceedings that the bombings
which form the subject of the Yugoslav Application "indeed entai1 the
element of intent, towards a group as such, required by the provision
quoted above" (Legulity of tlle Tl~reutor Usc of Nuclear Weapons. Advi-
sury Opinion, I.C.J. Reports 1996 (1), p. 240, para. 26);
28. Whereas the Court is therefore not in a position to find, at this
stage of the proceedings, that the acts imputed by Yugoslavia to the
Respondent are capable of coming within the provisions of the Genocide
Convention; and whereas Article IX of the Convention, invoked by432 LICEITE DE L'EMPLOI DE LA FORCE (ORD. 2 VI 99)
Yougoslavie, ne constitue partant pas une base sur laquelle la compé-
tence de la Cour pourrait prima facie êtrefondéedans le cas d'espèce;
29. Considérantque la Yougoslavie, dans sa requête, prétend en second
lieu fonder la compétencede la Cour sur le paragraphe 5 de l'article 38
du Règlement, ainsi libellé:
((5. Lorsque le demandeur entend fonder la compétence de la
Cour sur un consentement non encore donnéou manifestépar 1'Etat
contre lequel la requêteest formée, la requêteest transmise a cet
Etat. Toutefois elle n'est pas inscrite au rôle généralde la Cour et
aucun acte de procéduren'est effectuétant que 1'Etatcontre lequel
la requêteest forméen'a pas accepté la compétencede la Cour aux
fins del'affaire);
30. Considérant que l'Allemagne soutient que le paragraphe 5 de
l'article 38du Règlement estinopéranten l'espèce,parce qu'elle n'accepte
pas la proposition de la Yougoslavie de fonder la compétencede la Cour
sur un consentement qui serait donnéconformément a cet article;
31. Considérant qu'il estmanifeste que, en l'absence de consentement
de l'Allemagne donnéconformément au paragraphe 5 de l'article 38 du
Règlement,la Cour ne saurait avoir compétencedans la présenteaffaire,
même primu fucie;
32. Considérant qu'il résultede ce qui précèdeque la Cour n'a pas
prima facir compétencepour connaître de la requête dela Yougoslavie;
et qu'elle nesaurait dès lors indiquer quelque mesure conservatoire que
ce soita l'effetde protégerles droits qui y sont invoqués;
33. Considérant toutefois que les conclusions auxquelles la Cour est
parvenue en la présente procédurene préjugenten rien la compétencede
la Cour pour connaître du fond de l'affaire sur la base de l'articleIX de
la convention sur le génocide,ni aucune question relative a la recevabilité
de la requêteou au fond lui-même,et qu'elles laissent intact le droit du
Gouvernement yougoslave et du Gouvernement allemand de faire valoir
leurs moyens en la matière;
34. Considérantqu'il existeune distinction fondamentaleentre la ques-
tion de l'acceptation par un Etat de la juridiction de la Cour et la com-
patibilitéde certains actes avec le droit international; la compétenceexige
le consentement; la compatibilité ne peut êtreappréciéeque quand la
Cour examine le fond, après avoir établi sa compétence etentendu les
deux parties faire pleinement valoir leurs moyens en droit;Yugoslavia, cannot accordingly constitute a basis on which the jurisdic-
tion of the Court could prima facie be founded in this case;
29. Whereas in its Application Yugoslavia claims, in the second place,
to found the jurisdiction of the Court on Article 38, paragraph 5, of the
Rules of Court, which reads as follows:
"5. When the applicant State proposes to found the jurisdiction of
the Court upon a consent thereto yet to be given or manifested by
the State against which such application is made, the application
shall be transmitted to that State. It shall not however be entered in
the General List, nor any action be taken in the proceedings, unless
and until the State against which such application is made consents
to the Court's jurisdiction for the purposes of the case";
30. Whereas Germany contends that Article 38, paragraph 5,of the
Rules of Court is without effect in this case, because Germany does not
accept Yugoslavia's proposa1 to found the jurisdiction of the Court upon
a consent to be given in accordance with that Article;
31. Whereas it is quite clear that, in the absence of consent by Ger-
many, given pursuant to Article 38, paragraph 5, of the Rules, the Court
cannot exercise jurisdiction in the present case, even prima facie;
32. Whereas it follows from what has been said above that the Court
lacks prima faciejurisdiction to entertain Yugoslavia's Application; and
whereas it cannot therefore indicate any provisional measure whatsoever
in order to protect the rights invoked therein;
33. Whereas, however, the findings reached by the Court in the present
proceedings in no way prejudge the question of the jurisdiction of the
Court to deal with the merits of the case under Article IX of the Geno-
cide Convention, or any questions relating to the admissibility of the
Application, or relating to the merits themselves; and whereas they leave
unaffected the right of the Governments of Yugoslavia and Germany to
submit arguments in respect of those questions;
34. Whereas there is a fundamental distinction between the question
of the acceptance by a State of the Court's jurisdiction and the compat-
ibility of particular acts with international law; the former requires con-
sent; the latter question can only be reached when the Court deals with
the merits after having established its jurisdiction and having heard full
legal arguments by both parties;433 LICEITEDE L'EMPLOIDE LA FORCE (ORD. 2 VI 99)
35. Considérant que les Etats, qu'ils acceptent ou non la juridiction
de la Cour, demeurent en tout état de cause responsables des actes
contraires au droit international, y compris au droit humanitaire, qui
leur seraient imputables; que tout différend relatifa licéitéde tels actes
doit être réglépar des moyens pacifiques dont le choix est laissé aux
parties conformément a l'articl33 de la Charte;
36. Considérant que dans ce cadre les parties doivent veillera ne pas
aggraver ni étendre le différend;
37. Considérant que, lorsqu'un tel différend suscite une menace contre
la paix, une rupture de la paix ou un acte d'agression, le Conseil de sécu-
ritéest investi de responsabilités spéciales en vertu du chapitre de la
Charte :
38. Par ces motifs,
1) Par douze voix contre trois,
Rej~tte la demande en indication de mesures conservatoires présentée
par la République fédéralede Yougoslavie le 29 avril 1999;
POUR: M. Weeramantry, vice-prksidenr, fuisunt fbnctian de président en
I'uffuire; M. Schwebel, pr.ésin'entde la Cour; MM. Oda, Bedjaoui,
Guillaume, Ranjeva, Herczegh, Fleischhauer, Koroma, Mn" Higgins,
MM. Parra-Aranguren, Kooijmans,j~rges;
CONTRE M: M. Shi, Vereshchetin,juges; M. Kreta, juge ad hoc;
2) Par quatorze voix contre une,
R6srrve la suite de la procédure.
POUR: M. Weeramantry, vice-président.,fuisant fonction de président en
I'ufluire; M. Schwebel.prksident rle la Cour.; MM. Bedjaoui, Guillaume,
Ranjeva, Herczegh, Shi, Fleischhauer,Koroma, Vereshchetin,Mn" Hig-
gins, MM. Parra-Aranguren, Kooijmans,juges; M. Kreba,juge ad hoc;
CONTRE: M. Oda, juge.
Fait en français et en anglais, le texte français faisant foi, au Palais de
la Paix,a La Haye. le deux juin mil neuf cent quatre-vingt-dix-neuf, en
trois exemplaires. dont l'un restera déposéaux archives de la Cour et les
autres seront transmis respectivement au Gouvernement de la Répu-
blique fédéralede Yougoslavie et au Gouvernement de la République
fédéraled'Allemagne.
Le vice-président,
(Signi) Christopher G. WEERAMANTRY.
Le greffier,
(Signc;) Eduardo VALENCIA-OSPINA. 35. Whereas, whether or nnt States accept the jurisdiction of the
Court, they remain in any event responsible for acts attributable to them
that violate international law. including humanitarian law; whereas any
disputes relating to the legality of such acts are required to be resolved
by peaceful means, the choice of which, pursuant to Article 33 of the
Charter, is left to the parties;
36. Whereas in this context the parties should take care not to aggra-
vate or extend the dispute;
37. Whereas, when such a dispute gives rise to a threat to the peace,
breach of the peace or act of aggression, the Security Council has special
responsibilitiesunder Chapter VI1 of the Charter;
38. For these reasons.
THE COURT,
(1) By twelve votes to three;
Rrjects the request for the indication of provisional measures submit-
ted by the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia on 29 April 1999;
IN FAVOUR:Vice-Presidcnt Weeramantry, Acting Piesident: Piesidcnt
Schwebel; Judges Oda, Bedjaoui, Guillaume, Ranjeva, Herczegh,
Fleischhauer, Koroma, Higgins,Parra-Aranguren, Kooijmans;
AGAINST :Judges Shi, Vereshchetin ;Judge ad hoc Kreca ;
(2) By fourteen votes to one;
Resrrvrs the subsequent procedure for further decision.
IN FAVOUR:Vicr-Prrsirlrnt Weeramantry, Acting Piesident; Pre.sident
Schwebel; Juclg~.~: Bedjaoui, Guillaume, Ranjeva, Herczegh, Shi,
Fleischhauer, Koroma. Vereshchetin, Higgins, Parra-Aranguren, Kooij-
mans; Judgr ad hoc KreCa;
AGAINST: Judge Oda.
Done in French and in English, the French text being authoritative, ai
the Peace Palace, The Hague, this second day of June, one thousand nine
hundred and ninety-nine. in three copies, one of which will be placed in
the archives of the Court and the others transmitted to the Government
of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and the Government of the Fed-
eral Republic of Germany. respectively.
(Signecl) Christopher G. WEERAMANTRY
Vice-President.
(Signrd) Eduardo VALENCXA-OSPINA,
Registrar.434 LICÉJTE DE L'EMPLOI DE LA FORCE (ORD2 VI 99)
M. WEERAMANTRvY ic,e-président, faisant fonction de président en
l'affaire, etM. SHI, KOROMA et VERESHCHETjIu Ng,es, joignent des
déclarations a l'ordonnance.
MM. ODAet PARRA-ARANGURE jug,es, joignena l'ordonnance les
exposésde leur opinion individuelle.
M. KRECAj,uge rihoc, jointà l'ordonnance l'exposéde son opinion
dissidente.
pu ru ph^)C.G.W.
(Puruphé) E.V.O. Vice-President WEERAMANTRY A,cting President.and Judges SHI,
KOROMA and VERESHCHETI append declarations to the Order of the
Court.
Judges ODAand PARRA-ARANGURa Eppend separate opinions to the
Order of the Court.
Judge ud hoc KRECAappends a dissenting opinion to the Order of the
Court.
(InitiullcdC.G.W.
(Initiullecl) E.V.O.
Request for the Indication of Provisional Measures
Order of 2 June 1999