Order of 2 June 1999

Document Number
109-19990602-ORD-01-00-EN
Document Type
Incidental Proceedings
Date of the Document
Document File
Bilingual Document File

COUR INTERNATIONALE DE JUSTICE

RECUEIL DES ARRETS,
AVIS CONSULTATIFS ET ORDONNANCES

AFFAIRE RELATIVE À LA LICÉITÉ
DE L'EMPLOI DE LA FORCE

(YOUGOSLAVIE c. ITALIE)

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.ITALY)

REQUEST FOR THE INDICATION OF PROVISIONAL
MEASURES

ORDER OF 2 JUNE 1999 Mode officiel de citation:
Licéide l'emploide laforce (Yougoslavie c. Italie),
mesures conservutoires, ordonnancejuin 1999,
C.I.J. Recueil 1999. p. 481

Officia1citat:on
Legality of Use of Force (Yugov.Italy),
Provisional Meusures, Order of2 June 1999,
I..J. Reports 1999, p. 481

NO"vente: 731 1
ISSN 0074-4441 Sales number
ISBN 92-1-070799-0 2 JUIN 1999

ORDONNANCE

LICÉITÉ DE L'EMPLOI DE LA FORCE

(YOUGOSLAVIE c. ITALIE)

DEMANDE EN INDICATION DE MESURES
CONSERVATOIRES

LEGALITY OF USE OF FORCE

(YUGOSLAVIA v.ITALY)

REQUEST FOR THE INDICATION OF PROVISIONAl
MEASURES

2 JUNE 1999

ORDER INTERNATIONAL COURT OF JUSTICE

YEAR 1999 1999
2 June
2 June1999 General List
No.109

CASE CONCERNING

LEGALITY OF USE OF FORCE

(YUGOSLAVIA v.ITALY)

REQUEST FOR THE INDICATION OF PROVISIONAL
MEASURES

ORDER

Present: Vice-President WEERAMANTRA Y,ting Presiden; President
SCHWEBELJ;udges ODA, BEDJAOUIG , UILLAUMER , ANJEVA,
HERCZEGHS ,HI, FLEISCHHAUER K,OROMA, VERESHCHETIN,
HIGGIN~P,ARRA-ARANGURK EO,OIJMANJSu;dges ad hoc GAJA,
KRECAR; egistrar VALENCIA-OSPINA.

The International Court of Justice,

Composed as above,
After deliberation,

Having regard to Articles 41 and 48 of the Statute of the Court and to
Articles3 and 74 of the Rules 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 Italian Republic (here-
inafter "Italy") "for violation of the obligation not to use force", Makes thefolloti~ing Order.
1. Whereas in that Application Yugoslavia defines the subject of the
dispute as follows:

"The subject-matter of the dispute are acts of the Italian Republic
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 civilian objects in wartime, the obligation to protect
the environment, the obligation relating to free navigation on inter-
national 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
iurisdictionof the Court. to Article IX of the Convention on the Prevention
and Punishment of the crime of Genocide, adopted by the General Assem-
bly 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 Italian Republic, together with the Gov-
ernments of other Member States of NATO, took part in the actsof
use of force against the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia by taking
part in bombing targets in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. In
bombing the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia military and civilian

targets were attacked. Great number of people were killed, including
a great many civilians. Residentialhouses came under attack. Numer-
ous dwellings were destroyed. Enormous damage 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 inthe Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. The use of
weapons containing depleted uranium is having far-reaching conse-
quences for human life. The above-mentioned acts are deliberately
creating conditions calculated at the physical destruction of an eth-
nie group, in whole or in part. The Government ofthe Italian Repub-
lie is taking part in the training, arming, financing, equipping and
supplying the so-called 'Kosovo Liberation Army'";and whereas it further Statesthat the said claims are based on the follow-
ing legal grounds:

"The above acts of the Italian Republic represent a gross violation
of the obligation not to use force against another State. By finan-
cing, arming, training and equipping the so-called 'Kosovo Libera-
tion Army', support is given to terrorist groups and the secessionist
movement in the territory of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia in
breach of the obligation not to intervene in the interna1 affairs of
another State. In addition, the provisions of the Geneva Convention
of 1949and of the Additional Protocol No. 1of 1977on the protec-
tion of civilians and civilian objects in time of war have been vio-
lated. The obligation to protect the environment has also been
breached. The destruction of bridges on the Danube is in contraven-

tion of the provisions of Article 1 of the 1948 Convention on free
navigation on the Danube. The provisions of the International Cov-
enant on Civil and Political Rights and of the International Cov-
enant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights of 1966 have also
been breached. Furthermore, the obligation contained in the Con-
vention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide
not to impose deliberately on a national group conditions of life cal-
culated to bring about the physical destruction of the group has been
breached. Furthermore. the activities in which the Italian Reoublic is
taking part are contrari to Article 53, paragraph 1,of the darter 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 Italian Republic 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 Italian Republic has acted against the Federal Repub-
lic 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 Italian Republic
has acted against the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia in breach
of its obligation to spare the civilian population, civilians and
civilianobjects;by taking part in destroying or damaging monasteries, monu-
ments of culture, the Italian Republic has acted against the Fed-
eral Republic of Yugoslavia in breach of its obligation not to
commit any act of hostility directed against historical monu-
ments, works of art or places of worship which constitute cul-
tural or spiritual heritage of people;

by taking part in the use of cluster bombs, the Italian Republic

has acted against the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia in breach
of its obligation not to use prohibited weapons, i.e. weapons cal-
culated to cause unnecessary suffering;

by taking part in the bombing of oil refineries and chernical
plants, the Italian Republic has acted against the Federal Repub-
lic of Yugoslavia in breach of its obligation not to cause consid-
erable environmental damage;

by taking part in the use of weapons containing depleted
uranium, the Italian Republic 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 Italian Republic

has acted against the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia 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
Italian Republic has acted against the Federal Republic of Yugo-
slavia in breach of its obligation to respect freedom of naviga-
tion on international rivers;

by taking part in activities listed above, and in particular by
causing enormous environmental damage and by using depleted
uranium, the Italian Republic has acted against the Federal
Republic of Yugoslavia in breach of its obligation not to delib-
erately inflict on a national group conditions of lifecalculated to
bring about its physical destruction, in whole or in part;

the Italian Republic is responsible for the violation of theabove
international obligations;
the Italian Republic is obliged to stop immediately the violation
of the above obligations vis-à-vis the Federal Republic of Yugo-
slavia;
the Italian Republic is obliged to provide compensation for the damage done to the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia 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 photographic annexes pro-
duced as "evidence" ;
6. Whereas, in support of its request for the indication of provisional
measures, Yugoslavia contends inter alia that, since the onset of the
bombing of its territory, and as a result thereof, about 1,000 civilians,
including 19 children, have been killed and more than 4,500 have
sustained serious injuries; that the lives of three million children are

endangered; that hundreds of thousands of citizens have been exposed
to poisonous gases; that about one million citizens are short of water
supply; that about 500,000workers have becomejobless; that two million
citizens 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
facilities, 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 Italian Republic 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
1999 at 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
convoy and the Radio and Television of Serbia, just to mention

some of the well-known atrocities. Therefore, 1would 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 motu orto fixa datefor 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 Italian 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 II May 1999,where they would be
able to present their observations on the request for the indication ofro-
visional measures;

11. 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 LEGALITY OF USE OF FORCE (ORDER 2 VI 99) 487

Yugoslav nationality, the Yugoslav Government has availed itself of the
provisions of Article 31 of the Statute of the Court to choose Mr.
Milenko KreCato sit as judge ad hoc 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; whereas,
since the Court includes upon the bench no judge of Italian nationality,
the Italian Government has availed itself of the provisions of Article 31
of the Statute of the Court to choose Mr. Giorgio Gaja to sit asjudge ad
hoc,in the case; whereas, within the time-limit fixed for the purpose pur-
suant to Article 35, paragraph 3, of the Rules of Court, Yugoslavia,

referring to Article 31, paragraph 5, of the Statute, objected to that
choice; and whereas the Court, after due deliberation, found that the
nomination of ajudge ad hoc by Italy wasjustified in the present phase of
the case;
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 hehuij of Yugoslavia:

Mr. Rodoljub Etinski, Agent,
Mr. Ian Brownlie,
Mr. Paul J. 1. M. de Waart,
Mr. Eric Suy,
Mr. Miodrag Mitii.,
Mr. Olivier Corten;

On brhaif of Iral~~:
Mr. Umberto Leanza, Agent,
Mr. Luigi Daniele;

14. Whereas, in this phase of the proceedings, the Parties presented the
following submissions :
On behaif of Yugoslavia

"[Tlhe Court [isasked] to indicate the following provisional meas-
ure :
[Tlhe Italian Republic . . .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 behalf of Italy:
"May it please the Court:
1. to order that the case be removed from the General List pursuant
to Article 38, paragraph 5, of the Rules of Court;

2. in the alternative, to refuse the request for the indication of pro-
visional measures filed by the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia on
29 April 1999 ; 3. in any event, to refrain from indicating in respect of the Italian
Republic the provisional measures specified in the Yugoslav
request, or any other provisional measure."

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 itsStatute is that it cannot decide a dispute between States
without the consent of those States to itsjurisdiction"(Eust Timor (Por-
tugal v. Australia), Judgment, 1. 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 the jurisdiction of the Court might

be established;

21. Whereas in its Application Yugoslavia claims in the first place to LEGALITY OF USE OF FORCE (ORDER 2 VI 99) 489

found the jurisdiction of the Court on Article IX of the Genocide Con-
vention, which provides :

"Disputes between theContracting 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 inferalirr"acts of the Italian Republic by which it has
violated its international obligation . ..not to deliberately inflict condi-
tions of life calculated to cause the physical destruction of a national
group"; whereas, in describing the facts on which the Application is
based, Yugoslavia states: "The above-mentioned acts are deliberately
creating conditions calculated at the physical destruction of an ethnic
group, in whole or in part"; whereas, in its statement of the legal grounds
on which the Application is based, Yugoslavia contends that "the obliga-
tion . ..not to impose deliberately on a national group conditions 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 Republic of Italy has acted against the Federal Republic
of Yugoslavia in breach of its obligation not to deliberately inflicton
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 it is 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 ltaly contends that Article IX of the Genocide
Convention "does not constitute - even prima facie - a basis of juris- LEGALlTY OF USE OF FORCE (ORDER 2 VI 99) 490

diction such that the Court can consider the merits" of the case; whereas
it observes in this connection that "the allegations made by the Federal
Republicof Yugoslavia against Italy concern, in particular, a violation of
international obligations obviously not caught - even indirectly - by

the Genocide Convention"; and whereas, with regard to the tenth claim
formulated in the Yugoslav Application (see paragraph 4 above), that is
to Say,the only claim in which the applicant State "appears to invoke the
violation of obligations under the Convention", Italy considers that
"[mlanifestly, both the subjectiveelement and the objectiveelement of the
crime of genocide are lacking"; whereas it States, inter alia, with regard
to the objective element, that the "action taken by the NATO Member
States is directed at the territory of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia
and not at its people" and that "the concept of 'genocide' does not cover
action relating to the whole of the population of a State"; whereas it con-
tends, with regard to the subjective element, that there is "absence of the
psychological component of the crime [of genocide] - the deliberate and

intentional desire to achieve its inherent objective,namely the destruction
of al1or part of a national, ethnic, racial or religious group as such";

24. Whereas it is not disputed that both Yugoslavia and Italy 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" ofthe Convention, including disputes "relating to the
responsibility of a State for genocide or for any of the other acts enumer-

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 Genocide Convention 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 by Yugoslavia are capable of fallingwithin the provisions
of that instrument and whether, as a consequence, the dispute is one
which the Court has jurisdiction ratione materiae to entertain pursuant
to Article IX (cf. Oil Platforms (Islamic Republic of Iran v. United States
of Americu), Preliminury Objection, Judgrnent, 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:

"In 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, as such:

(LI) Killing members of the group; (6) Causing serious bodily or mental harm to members of the

group ;
(c) Deliberately inflicting on the group conditions of life calculated
to bring about its physical destruction in whole or in part;
(cl) 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'" (Application of the Conven-
tiotz on tlie Prevention uncl Purzislitl~et f the Crime of Genocide, Provi-
siorztll Metrszrres, Order of 13 Septe~nber 1993, I.C.J. Reports 1993,
p. 345, para. 42); whereas the threat or use of force against a State can-

not in itself constitute an act of genocide within the meaning of Article II
of the Genocide Convention; and whereas, in the opinion of the Court, it
does not appear at the present stage of the proceedings that the bombings
which form the subject of the Yugoslav Application "indeed entail the
element of intent, towards a group as such, required by the provision
quoted above" (Legulity of the Threut or (/.seoJ'Nucleur Weupons, Adili-
sorj, 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
Coiîvention; and whereas Article IX of the Convention, invoked by
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, nos 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 Italy contends that the reference made by Yugoslavia to
Article 38, paragraph 5, of the Rules of Court shows that the Applicant

was "aware, when it submitted its Application, that there was no existing
title" between the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and Italy conferring
jurisdiction on the Court; and it points out that the Italian Government
"has no intention of consenting to the Court's jurisdiction to consider the
merits" : 31. Whereas it is quite clear that, in the absence of consent by Italy,
given pursuant to Article 38, paragraph 5, of the Rules, the Court cannot
exercisejurisdiction 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 the Court 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 Italy to sub-
mit arguments in respect of those questions;
34. Whereas in consequence the Court cannot, at this stage of the pro-
ceedings, accedeto Italy's request that the case be removed from the List;

35. 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;
36. Whereas, whether or not 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;
37. Whereas in this context the parties should take care not to aggra-

vate or extend the dispute;
38. 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 VI1of the Charter; 39. For these reasons,

(1) By thirteen 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 FAVOURV : ice-Presidrnt Weeramantry, Acting President; President
Schwebel;Judgcs Oda, Bedjaoui.Guillaume, Ranjeva, Herczegh, Fleisch-
hauer, Koroma, Higgins, Parra-Aranguren, KooiJmans; Judge ad hoc
Gaja ;
AGAINSJT u:dges Shi, Vereshchetin;Judge ad hoc KreCa;

(2) By fifteen votes to one,

Reserves the subsequent procedure for further decision.
IN FAVOUR : Vicr-President Weeramantry, Acting President ; President
Schwebel;Judges Bedjaoui, Guillaume, Ranjeva, Herczegh, Shi, Fleisch-

hauer, Koroma, Vereshchetin, Higgins, Parra-Aranguren, Kooijmans;
Juclgesad hoc Gaja, KreCa;
AGAINST :Judge Oda.

Done in French and in English, the French text being authoritative, at
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 Italian

Republic, respectively.

(Signed) Christopher G. WEERAMANTRY,

Vice-President.

(Signed) Eduardo VALENCIA-OSPINA,
Registrar.

Vice-President WEERAMANTRA Yc,ting President, Judges SHI,KOROMA
and VERESHCHETIaN n,d Judge ad hoc GAJAappend declarations to the
Order of the Court.

Judges ODAand PARRA-ARANGURE aNpend separate opinions to the
Order of the Court.

16 Judge ad hoc KRECA appends a dissenting opinion to the Order of the
Court.

(Initiulled) C.G.W.
(Initialled) E.V.O.

Bilingual Content

COUR INTERNATIONALE DE JUSTICE

RECUEIL DES ARRETS,
AVIS CONSULTATIFS ET ORDONNANCES

AFFAIRE RELATIVE À LA LICÉITÉ
DE L'EMPLOI DE LA FORCE

(YOUGOSLAVIE c. ITALIE)

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.ITALY)

REQUEST FOR THE INDICATION OF PROVISIONAL
MEASURES

ORDER OF 2 JUNE 1999 Mode officiel de citation:
Licéide l'emploide laforce (Yougoslavie c. Italie),
mesures conservutoires, ordonnancejuin 1999,
C.I.J. Recueil 1999. p. 481

Officia1citat:on
Legality of Use of Force (Yugov.Italy),
Provisional Meusures, Order of2 June 1999,
I..J. Reports 1999, p. 481

NO"vente: 731 1
ISSN 0074-4441 Sales number
ISBN 92-1-070799-0 2 JUIN 1999

ORDONNANCE

LICÉITÉ DE L'EMPLOI DE LA FORCE

(YOUGOSLAVIE c. ITALIE)

DEMANDE EN INDICATION DE MESURES
CONSERVATOIRES

LEGALITY OF USE OF FORCE

(YUGOSLAVIA v.ITALY)

REQUEST FOR THE INDICATION OF PROVISIONAl
MEASURES

2 JUNE 1999

ORDER COUR INTERNATIONALE DE JUSTICE

1999 ANNÉE 1999
Rble général
no 109 2 juin1999

AFFAIRE RELATIVE À LA LICÉITÉ

DE L'EMPLOI DE LA FORCE

(YOUGOSLAVIE c. ITALIE)

DEMANDE EN INDICATION DE MESURES
CONSERVATOIRES

ORDONNANCE

Présents: M. WEERAMANTRv i,e-président,faisant fonction de pré-
sident en l'affaire; SCHWEBEL p,résident de la Cour;
MM. ODA, BEDJAOUI,GUILLAUMER , ANJEVA,HERCZEGH,
SHI,FLEISCHHAUEK R, ROMAV, ERESHCHETIMNm, e HIGGINS,
MM. PARRA-ARANGUREK N,OIJMANS,juges; MM. GAJA,

KRECAj,uges ad hoc; M. VALENCIA-OSPINgre,fjer.

La Cour internationale de Justice,
Ainsi composée,

Après délibéen chambre du conseil,
Vu les articles 41 et 48 du Statut de la Cour et les articles 73 et 74 de
son Règlement,
Vu la requête déposear la République fédérde Yougoslavie (ci-
aprèsdénomméela «Yougoslavi») au Greffe de la Cour le 29 avril 1999,
par laquelle elle a introduit une instance contre la République italienne

(ci-après dénomméel'«Italie») «pour violation de l'obligation de ne pas
recourir l'emploi de la force», INTERNATIONAL COURT OF JUSTICE

YEAR 1999 1999
2 June
2 June1999 General List
No.109

CASE CONCERNING

LEGALITY OF USE OF FORCE

(YUGOSLAVIA v.ITALY)

REQUEST FOR THE INDICATION OF PROVISIONAL
MEASURES

ORDER

Present: Vice-President WEERAMANTRA Y,ting Presiden; President
SCHWEBELJ;udges ODA, BEDJAOUIG , UILLAUMER , ANJEVA,
HERCZEGHS ,HI, FLEISCHHAUER K,OROMA, VERESHCHETIN,
HIGGIN~P,ARRA-ARANGURK EO,OIJMANJSu;dges ad hoc GAJA,
KRECAR; egistrar VALENCIA-OSPINA.

The International Court of Justice,

Composed as above,
After deliberation,

Having regard to Articles 41 and 48 of the Statute of the Court and to
Articles3 and 74 of the Rules 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 Italian Republic (here-
inafter "Italy") "for violation of the obligation not to use force",482 LICÉITÉ DE L'EMPLOI DE LA FORCE (ORD. 2 VI 99)

Rend l'ordonnance suivante :
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 italienne, en violation de son obligation internationale de ne
pas recourir a l'emploi de la force contre un autre Etat, de I'obliga-
tion de ne pas s'immiscerdans les affaires intérieuresd'un autre Etat,
de I'obligation de ne pas porter atteinte la souveraineté d'unautre
Etat, de I'obligation de protégerlespopulations civileset lesbiens de
caractère civil en temps de guerre, de I'obligation de protégerenvi-
ronnement, de I'obligation touchant à la libertéde navigation sur les
cours d'eau internationaux, de I'obligation concernant les droits et
libertésfondamentaux de la personne humaine, de I'obligation de ne
pas utiliser des armes interdites, de l'obligation de ne pas soumettre
intentionnellement un groupe national a des conditions d'existence

devant entraîner sa destruction physique));
2. Considérant que,dans ladite requête,la Yougoslavie,pour fonder la
compétencede la Cour, invoquel'article IXde la conventionpour la préven-
tion et larépressiondu crimede génocide,adoptée parl'Assemblée générale
des Nations Unies le 9 décembre1948(ci-aprèsdénommée la ((convention
sur le génocide))et le paragraphe5de l'article38du Règlementde la Cour;
3. Considérant que, dans sa requête,la Yougoslavie expose que les
demandes qu'elle soumet à la Cour sont fondéessur les faits ci-après:

«Le Gouvernement de la Républiqueitalienne, conjointement avec
les gouvernements d'autres Etats membres de l'OTAN, a recouru a
l'emploi de la force contre la Républiquefédéralede Yougoslavie en
prenant part au bombardement de cibles dans la Républiquefédérale
de Yougoslavie. Lors des bombardements de la Républiquefédérale
de Yougoslavie, des cibles militaires et civiles ont été attaqué. n
grand nombre de personnes ont été tuéesd ,ont de très nombreux

civils. Des immeubles d'habitation ont subi des attaques. Un grand
nombre d'habitations ont été détruites. D'énormes dégâotn st été
causés àdes écoles,des hôpitaux, des stations de radiodiffusion et de
télévision, es structures culturelles et sanitaires, ainsi qu'à des lieux
de culte. Nombre de ponts, routes et voies de chemin de fer ont été
détruits. Les attaques contre des raffineries de pétrole etdes usines
chimiques ont eu de graves effets dommageables pour I'environne-
ment de villes et de villages de la Républiquefédéralede Yougosla-
vie. L'emploi d'armes contenant de l'uranium appauvri a de lourdes
conséquencespour la vie humaine. Les actes susmentionnésont pour
effet de soumettre intentionnellement un groupe ethniquea des condi-
tions devant entraîner sa destruction physique totale ou partielle. Le
Gouvernement de la République italienne prend part a I'entraîne-
ment, à l'armement, au financement, à l'équipementet a I'approvi-
sionnement de la prétendue ((arméede libérationdu Kosovo)); Makes thefolloti~ing Order.
1. Whereas in that Application Yugoslavia defines the subject of the
dispute as follows:

"The subject-matter of the dispute are acts of the Italian Republic
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 civilian objects in wartime, the obligation to protect
the environment, the obligation relating to free navigation on inter-
national 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
iurisdictionof the Court. to Article IX of the Convention on the Prevention
and Punishment of the crime of Genocide, adopted by the General Assem-
bly 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 Italian Republic, together with the Gov-
ernments of other Member States of NATO, took part in the actsof
use of force against the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia by taking
part in bombing targets in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. In
bombing the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia military and civilian

targets were attacked. Great number of people were killed, including
a great many civilians. Residentialhouses came under attack. Numer-
ous dwellings were destroyed. Enormous damage 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 inthe Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. The use of
weapons containing depleted uranium is having far-reaching conse-
quences for human life. The above-mentioned acts are deliberately
creating conditions calculated at the physical destruction of an eth-
nie group, in whole or in part. The Government ofthe Italian Repub-
lie is taking part in the training, arming, financing, equipping and
supplying the so-called 'Kosovo Liberation Army'";483 LICÉITÉ 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:

({Les actes susmentionnés du Gouvernement italien constituent
une violation flagrante de I'obligation de ne pas recourir a l'emploi
de la force contre un autre Etat. En finançant, armant, entraînant et
équipantla prétendue ((arméede libérationdu Kosovo)), le Gouver-
nement italien apporte un appui à des groupes terroristes et au mou-
vement sécessionnistesur le territoire de la République fédéralede
Yougoslavie, en violation de I'obligation de ne pas s'immiscer dans

les affaires intérieures d'un autre Etat. De surcroît, les dispo-
sitions de la convention de Genève de 1949 et du protocole addi-
tionnel no 1 de 1977 relatives à la protection des civils et des biens
de caractère civil en temps de guerre ont étéviolées.Il y a eu aussi
violation de I'obligation de protéger l'environnement. La destruc-
tion de ponts sur le Danube enfreint les dispositions de l'article 1
de la convention de 1948 relative 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 éco-
nomiques, sociaux et culturels de 1966 ont elles aussi étéviolées.

En outre, I'obligation énoncéedans la convention pour la préven-
tion et la répression du crime de génocide de ne pas soumettre
intentionnellement un groupe national à des conditions d'existence
devant entraîner sa destruction physique a étéviolée. De plus,
les activités auxquelles la République italienne 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:

((LeGouvernement 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 italienne a agi

contre la République fédéralede Yougoslavie, en violation de
son obligation de ne pas recourir A l'emploi de la force contre un
autre Etat;
- qu'en prenant part à l'entraînement, à l'armement, au finance-
ment, a l'équipementet a l'approvisionnement de groupes terro-
ristes, savoir la prétendue ((arméede libérationdu Kosovo)), la
Républiqueitaliennea agi contre la Républiquefédérale de You-
goslavie, en violation de son obligation de ne pas s'immiscer
dans les affaires d'un autre Etat;
- qu'en prenant part a des attaques contre des cibles civiles, la

Républiqueitaliennea agi contre la Républiquefédérale de You-
goslavie, en violation de son obligation d'épargnerla population
civile, les civils et les biens de caractère civil;and whereas it further Statesthat the said claims are based on the follow-
ing legal grounds:

"The above acts of the Italian Republic represent a gross violation
of the obligation not to use force against another State. By finan-
cing, arming, training and equipping the so-called 'Kosovo Libera-
tion Army', support is given to terrorist groups and the secessionist
movement in the territory of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia in
breach of the obligation not to intervene in the interna1 affairs of
another State. In addition, the provisions of the Geneva Convention
of 1949and of the Additional Protocol No. 1of 1977on the protec-
tion of civilians and civilian objects in time of war have been vio-
lated. The obligation to protect the environment has also been
breached. The destruction of bridges on the Danube is in contraven-

tion of the provisions of Article 1 of the 1948 Convention on free
navigation on the Danube. The provisions of the International Cov-
enant on Civil and Political Rights and of the International Cov-
enant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights of 1966 have also
been breached. Furthermore, the obligation contained in the Con-
vention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide
not to impose deliberately on a national group conditions of life cal-
culated to bring about the physical destruction of the group has been
breached. Furthermore. the activities in which the Italian Reoublic is
taking part are contrari to Article 53, paragraph 1,of the darter 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 Italian Republic 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 Italian Republic has acted against the Federal Repub-
lic 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 Italian Republic
has acted against the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia in breach
of its obligation to spare the civilian population, civilians and
civilianobjects; LICÉITE DE L'EMPLOI DE LA FORCE (ORD. 2 VI 99)

- qu'en prenant part à la destruction ou à l'endommagement de
monastères, d'édificesculturels, la République italienne a agi

contre la République fédéralede Yougoslavie, en violation de
son obligation de ne pas commettre d'actes d'hostilité dirigés
contre des monuments historiques, des Œuvresd'art ou des lieux
de culte constituant le patrimoine culturel ou spirituel d'un
peuple;
qu'en prenant part à l'utilisation de bombes en grappe, la Répu-
blique italienne a agi contre la République fédéralede Yougo-
slavie, en violation de son obligation de ne pas utiliser des armes
interdites, c'est-à-dire des armes de natureà causer des maux
su~erflus:
qu'en prenant part aux bombardements de raffineries de pétrole

et d'usines chimiques, la République italienne a agi contre la
Républiquefédéralede Yougoslavie, en violation de son obliga-
tion de ne pas causer de dommages substantiels à I'environne-
ment;
qu'en recourant à l'utilisation d'armes contenant de l'uranium
appauvri, la République italienne a agi contre la République
fédéralede Yougoslavie, en violation de son obligation de ne pas
utiliser des armes interdites et de ne pas causer de dommages de
grande ampleur à la santéet à I'environnement;
qu'en prenant part au meurtre de civils, la destruction d'entre-
prises, de moyens de communication et de structures sanitaires et

culturelles, la République italienne a agi contre la République
fédéralede Yougoslavie, en violation de son obligation de res-
pecter le droit la vie, le droit au travail, le àl'information,
le droit aux soins de santéainsi que d'autres droits fondamen-
taux de la personne humaine;
qu'en prenant part à la destruction de ponts situéssur des cours
d'eau internationaux, la République italienne a agi contre la
Républiquefédéralede Yougoslavie, en violation de son obliga-
tion de respecter la libertéde navigation sur lescours d'eau inter-
nationaux:
qu'en pren'antpart aux activitésénuméréec si-dessus et en parti-

culier en causant des dommagesénormes à I'environnement et en
utilisant de l'uranium appauvri, la République italienne a agi
contre la République fédéralede Yougoslavie, en violation de
son obligation de ne pas soumettre intentionnellement un groupe
nationalà des conditions d'existencedevant entraîner sa destruc-
tion physique totale ou partielle;
que la Républiqueitalienne porte la responsabilitéde la violation
des obligations internationales susmentionnées;
que la République italienne est tenue de mettre fin immédiate-
ment àla violation des obligations susmentionnées à l'égardde
la Républiquefédéralede Yougoslavie;

que la République italienne doit réparation pour les préjudicesby taking part in destroying or damaging monasteries, monu-
ments of culture, the Italian Republic has acted against the Fed-
eral Republic of Yugoslavia in breach of its obligation not to
commit any act of hostility directed against historical monu-
ments, works of art or places of worship which constitute cul-
tural or spiritual heritage of people;

by taking part in the use of cluster bombs, the Italian Republic

has acted against the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia in breach
of its obligation not to use prohibited weapons, i.e. weapons cal-
culated to cause unnecessary suffering;

by taking part in the bombing of oil refineries and chernical
plants, the Italian Republic has acted against the Federal Repub-
lic of Yugoslavia in breach of its obligation not to cause consid-
erable environmental damage;

by taking part in the use of weapons containing depleted
uranium, the Italian Republic 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 Italian Republic

has acted against the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia 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
Italian Republic has acted against the Federal Republic of Yugo-
slavia in breach of its obligation to respect freedom of naviga-
tion on international rivers;

by taking part in activities listed above, and in particular by
causing enormous environmental damage and by using depleted
uranium, the Italian Republic has acted against the Federal
Republic of Yugoslavia in breach of its obligation not to delib-
erately inflict on a national group conditions of lifecalculated to
bring about its physical destruction, in whole or in part;

the Italian Republic is responsible for the violation of theabove
international obligations;
the Italian Republic is obliged to stop immediately the violation
of the above obligations vis-à-vis the Federal Republic of Yugo-
slavia;
the Italian Republic is obliged to provide compensation for the LICEITEDE L'EMPLOI DE LA FORCE (ORD. 2 VI 99)

causés à la République fédéralede 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 29avril 1999,immédiatementaprèsle dépôtde
sa requête, laYougoslavie a en outre présenté une demandeen indication
de mesures conservatoires invoquant l'article 73 du Règlement de la

Cour; et que la demande étaitaccompagnée d'un volume d'annexespho-
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 tuéest plus de quatre millecinq
cents grièvement blessés;que la vie de trois millions d'enfants est mena-
cée;que des centaines de milliers de personnes ont étéexposées à des 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 aérienneset
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 soumise intentionnellement àdes 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 lesmesures demandéesne sont pas adoptées,il y aura de nou-
velles pertes en vies humaines, de nouvelles atteintes a 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»; damage done to the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia 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 photographic annexes pro-
duced as "evidence" ;
6. Whereas, in support of its request for the indication of provisional
measures, Yugoslavia contends inter alia that, since the onset of the
bombing of its territory, and as a result thereof, about 1,000 civilians,
including 19 children, have been killed and more than 4,500 have
sustained serious injuries; that the lives of three million children are

endangered; that hundreds of thousands of citizens have been exposed
to poisonous gases; that about one million citizens are short of water
supply; that about 500,000workers have becomejobless; that two million
citizens 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
facilities, 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-
pléter sademande, elle prie la Cour d'indiquer la mesure suivante:
«La République italiennedoit cesser immédiatementde recourir à
l'emploi de la force et doit s'abstenir de tout acte constituant 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 accompagnée d'une lettre del'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 télévision serbes,
pour neciter que quelques exemplesdes atrocitésque chacun connaît.
Je tiens en conséquence a prévenir laCour qu'il est fort probable
qu'ily aura encore d'autres victimes civileset militaires.

Considérant le pouvoir conféré a la Cour aux termes du para-
graphe 1de l'article 75de son Règlement, etcompte tenu de l'extrême
urgence de la situation née descirconstances décritesdans les de-
mandes en indication de mesures conservatoires, je prie la Cour de
bien vouloir se prononcer d'officesur les demandes présentées oude
fixerune date pour la tenue d'une audience dans lesmeilleursdélais));
9. Considérant que, le 29 avril 1999, date à laquelle la requêteet la

demande en indication de mesures conservatoires ont été déposéeasu
Greffe, le greffier a fait tenir au Gouvernement italien des copies signées
de la requêteet de la demande, conformément au paragraphe 4 de l'ar-
ticle 38 et au paragraphe 2 de l'article 73 du Règlement de 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 29 avril 1999, le greffiera aviséles Parties que
la Cour avait décidé,conformément au paragraphe 3 de l'article 74 de
son Règlement, de tenir audience les 10 et Il mai 1999 aux fins de les
entendre en leurs observations sur la demande en indication de mesures
conservatoires ;
11. Considérantqu'en attendant que la communication prévueau para-
graphe 3de l'article 40du Statut et à l'article42 du Règlementde la Cour
ait été effectuépear transmission du texte bilingue impriméde la requête
aux Membres des Nations Unies et aux autres Etats admis à ester devant
la Cour, le greffier a, le 29 avril 1999,informéces Etats du dépôt de la

requêteet de son objet, ainsi que du dépôt de la demande en indication
de mesures conservatoires ;
12. Considérant que, la Cour ne comptant pas sur le siègede juge deand whereas, while reserving the right to amend and supplement its
request, Yugoslavia requests the Court to indicate the following measure:

"The Italian Republic 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
1999 at 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
convoy and the Radio and Television of Serbia, just to mention

some of the well-known atrocities. Therefore, 1would 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 motu orto fixa datefor 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 Italian 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 II May 1999,where they would be
able to present their observations on the request for the indication ofro-
visional measures;

11. 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 of487 LICÉITÉ DE L'EMPLOI DE LA FORCE (ORD. 2 VI 99)

nationalitéyougoslave, le Gouvernement yougoslave a invoquélesdispo-
sitions de l'article 31 du Statut de la Cour et a désignéM. Milenko KreSa
pour siéger enqualitéde juge ad hoc en l'affaire; et qu'aucune objection
à cette désignation n'a étésoulevéedans le délaifixéa cet effet en vertu
du paragraphe 3 de l'article 35 du Règlement de la Cour; considérant
que, la Cour ne comptant pas sur le siègedejuge de nationalité italienne,

le Gouvernement italien a invoquéles dispositions de l'article 31 du Sta-
tut de la Cour et a désignéM. Giorgio Gaja pour siéger enqualitédejuge
ad hoc en l'affaire, que, dans le délaifixé à cet effet en vertu du para-
graphe 3de l'article 35du Règlement,la Yougoslavie, seréférantau para-
graphe 5 de l'article 31 du Statut, a fait objectioà cette désignation; et
que la Cour, aprèsdélibération,est parvenue à la conclusion que la dési-
gnation d'un juge ad hoc par l'Italie sejustifiait dans la présente phasede
l'affaire
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 étéprésentées:

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 Mitié,
M. Olivier Corten;
au nom de I'lt~~lie:

par M. Umberto Leanza, agent,
M. Luigi Daniele;
14. Considérant que, dans cette phase de la procédure,les Parties ont
présentéles conclusions suivantes:

au nom de la Yougoslavie:
«[L]a Cour [est priée] d'indiquer la mesure conservatoire sui-
vante :

[L]a Républiqueitalienne ..doi[t] cesser immédiatementde recou-
rira l'emploi de la force et doi[t] s'abstenir de tout acte constituant
une menace de recours ou un recours àl'emploi de la force contre la
Républiquefédéralede Yougoslavie));
au nom de l'ltulir:

((Veuillela Cour,
1. ordonner la radiation de l'affaire du rôle généralaux termes de
l'article 38,paragraphe 5, du Réglernentde procédure;
2. en voie subordonnée,rejeter la demande en indication de mesures

conservatoires déposéepar la Républiquefédéralede Yougosla-
vie le 29 avril 1999; LEGALITY OF USE OF FORCE (ORDER 2 VI 99) 487

Yugoslav nationality, the Yugoslav Government has availed itself of the
provisions of Article 31 of the Statute of the Court to choose Mr.
Milenko KreCato sit as judge ad hoc 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; whereas,
since the Court includes upon the bench no judge of Italian nationality,
the Italian Government has availed itself of the provisions of Article 31
of the Statute of the Court to choose Mr. Giorgio Gaja to sit asjudge ad
hoc,in the case; whereas, within the time-limit fixed for the purpose pur-
suant to Article 35, paragraph 3, of the Rules of Court, Yugoslavia,

referring to Article 31, paragraph 5, of the Statute, objected to that
choice; and whereas the Court, after due deliberation, found that the
nomination of ajudge ad hoc by Italy wasjustified in the present phase of
the case;
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 hehuij of Yugoslavia:

Mr. Rodoljub Etinski, Agent,
Mr. Ian Brownlie,
Mr. Paul J. 1. M. de Waart,
Mr. Eric Suy,
Mr. Miodrag Mitii.,
Mr. Olivier Corten;

On brhaif of Iral~~:
Mr. Umberto Leanza, Agent,
Mr. Luigi Daniele;

14. Whereas, in this phase of the proceedings, the Parties presented the
following submissions :
On behaif of Yugoslavia

"[Tlhe Court [isasked] to indicate the following provisional meas-
ure :
[Tlhe Italian Republic . . .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 behalf of Italy:
"May it please the Court:
1. to order that the case be removed from the General List pursuant
to Article 38, paragraph 5, of the Rules of Court;

2. in the alternative, to refuse the request for the indication of pro-
visional measures filed by the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia on
29 April 1999 ;488 LICEITE DE L'EMPLOI DE LA FORCE (ORD. 2 VI 99)

3. s'abstenir en tout état de cause d'indiquer à l'encontre de la
Républiqueitalienne les mesures conservatoires figurant dans la
demande yougoslave. ou n'importe quelle autre mesure conserva-
toire»;

15. Considérant que la Cour est profondément préoccupéepar le
drame humain, les pertes en vieshumaines et les terribles souffrances que

connaît le Kosovo et qui constituent la toile de fond du présentdifférend,
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;
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
lesparties qui seprésententdevant 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 à
ester devant elle; que la Cour a déclaréà maintes 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))
(Timor oriental (Portugal c. Australie), arrêt,C.IJ.Recueil 1995, p. 101,
par. 26); et que la Cour ne peut donc exercer sa compétence à l'égard
d'Etats partiesà un différendque si ces derniers ont non seulement accès
à la Cour, mais ont en outre accepté sa compétence,soit d'une manière
générale, soitpour 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 acompétencequant au fond de l'affaire, mais qu'ellene peut indi-
quer ces mesures que si les dispositions invoquéespar le demandeur sem-
blent prima facie constituer une base sur laquelle la compétencede la
Cour pourrait être fondée;

21. Considérant que la Yougoslavie, dans sa requête, prétenden pre- 3. in any event, to refrain from indicating in respect of the Italian
Republic the provisional measures specified in the Yugoslav
request, or any other provisional measure."

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 itsStatute is that it cannot decide a dispute between States
without the consent of those States to itsjurisdiction"(Eust Timor (Por-
tugal v. Australia), Judgment, 1. 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 the jurisdiction of the Court might

be established;

21. Whereas in its Application Yugoslavia claims in the first place to489 LICÉITÉ DE L'EMPLOI DE LA FORCE (ORD. 2 VI 99)

mier lieu fonder la compétencede la Cour sur l'article IX de la conven-
tion sur le génocide,aux termes duquel:
«Les différendsentre les Parties contractantes relatifs a l'interpré-

tation, l'application ou l'exécutionde la présenteconvention, y com-
pris ceux relatifs la responsabilité d'unEtat en matièrede génocide
ou de l'un quelconque des autres actes énumérés à l'article III, seront
soumis a la Cour internationale de Justice, a la requêted'une partie
au différend »;
et considérantque, dans sa requête, laYougoslavie indique que l'objet du

différendporte notamment sur «les actes commis par la Républiqueita-
lienne, en violation de son obligation internationale...de ne pas soumet-
tre intentionnellement un groupe national à des conditions d'existence
devant entraîner sa destruction physique)); qu'en décriva~itles faits sur
lesquels la requêteest fondée,la Yougoslavie précise: «Les actes susmen-
tionnésont pour effet de soumettre intentionnellement un groupe ethni-
que à des 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 intentionnellement un
groupe national à des conditions d'existence devant entraîner sa destruc-
tion physique a été violée));eqtue l'une desdemandes au fond contenues
dans la requêteest ainsi formulée:

«qu'en prenant part aux activitésénumérées ci-dessus et en parti-
culier en causant des dommagesénormes a l'environnement eten uti-
lisant de l'uranium appauvri, la Républiqueitalienne a agi contre la
Républiquefédéralede Yougoslavie, en violation de son obligation
de ne pas soumettre intentionnellement un groupe national à des
conditions d'existencedevantentraîner 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 l'article II de la
convention sur le génocide));qu'elle fait valoir que «la pollution du sol,
de l'air etde l'eau, la destruction de l'économiedu pays, la contamination
de l'environnement par de l'uranium appauvri reviennent à soumettre la
nation yougoslave a des conditions d'existence devant entraîner sa des-

truction physique)); qu'elle affirmeque c'est lanation yougoslave toute
entière, en tant que telle, qui est prise pour cible; et qu'elle souligneque
le recoursa certaines armes, dont on connaît par avance lesconséquences
dommageables à long terme sur la santéet l'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'Italie soutient pour sa part que l'article IXde la
convention sur le génocide«n'est pas en mesure de constituer - pas LEGALITY OF USE OF FORCE (ORDER 2 VI 99) 489

found the jurisdiction of the Court on Article IX of the Genocide Con-
vention, which provides :

"Disputes between theContracting 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 inferalirr"acts of the Italian Republic by which it has
violated its international obligation . ..not to deliberately inflict condi-
tions of life calculated to cause the physical destruction of a national
group"; whereas, in describing the facts on which the Application is
based, Yugoslavia states: "The above-mentioned acts are deliberately
creating conditions calculated at the physical destruction of an ethnic
group, in whole or in part"; whereas, in its statement of the legal grounds
on which the Application is based, Yugoslavia contends that "the obliga-
tion . ..not to impose deliberately on a national group conditions 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 Republic of Italy has acted against the Federal Republic
of Yugoslavia in breach of its obligation not to deliberately inflicton
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 it is 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 ltaly contends that Article IX of the Genocide
Convention "does not constitute - even prima facie - a basis of juris-mêmeprima fucie - un titre de compétence tel que la Cour puisse
connaître du fond)) de l'affaire; considérant qu'elle fait observer à cet
égard que «les contestations adressées par la République fédéralede
Yougoslavie contre l'Italie concernent aussi et surtout la violation d'obli-

gations internationales qu'on ne saurait inclure - pas même indirecte-
ment - dans le champ d'application de la convention)); et considérant
que, pour ce qui a trait à la dixièmedemande formuléedans la requête
yougoslave (voir paragraphe 4 ci-dessus),((à savoir la seule demande où
1'Etatdemandeur semble invoquer la violation d'obligations relevant de
la convention)), l'Italie considère que «[d]e toute évidencetant l'élément
subjectif du crime de génocideque I'élément objectiffont défaut));qu'elle
indique notamment, en ce qui concerne I'élément objectifq ,ue (([ll'action
des Etats membres de l'OTAN a pour objet le territoire de la République
fédéralede Yougoslavie et non pas sa population)) et que «le crime de

«génocide» ne couvre pas des actions affectant l'ensemble de la popula-
tion d'un Etat)); et qu'ellesoutient, en ce qui concerne l'élément subjectif,
qu'il y a «absence de I'élément psychologiquec ,onstitutif [du] crime [de
génocide] ..consist[ant] dans la volontédélibérée et intentionnellede réa-
liser la finalitéinhérentedu crime, à savoir la destruction totale ou par-
tielle d'un groupenational, ethnique, racial ou religieux,en tant que tel));
24. Considérant qu'il n'est pas contesté que tant la Yougoslavie que
l'Italie sont partiesà la convention sur le génocide,sans réserves; etque
l'articleIX de la convention semble ainsi constituer une base sur laquelle
la compétencedela Cour pourrait être fondéep ,our autant que l'objet du

différendait trait à ((l'interprétation,l'application ou l'exécution)) dela
convention, ycompris lesdifférends((relatifs à la responsabilitéd'un Etat
en matière de génocideou de I'un quelconque des autres actes énumérés
à l'article II>)de ladite convention;
25. Considérant que, à l'effet d'établir,mêmeprima,facie, si un diffé-
rend au sens de l'article IX de la convention sur le génocide existe, la
Cour ne peut se borner à constater que l'une des parties soutient que la
convention s'applique alors que l'autre le nie; et que, au cas particulier,
elledoit rechercher si lesviolations de la convention alléguées par la You-

goslavie sont susceptibles d'entrer dans lesprévisionsde cet instrument et
si, par suite, le différend estde ceux dont la Cour pourrait avoir compé-
tence pour connaître rutione materiae par application de I'article IX
(cf.Plates-formes pétrolières(Républiqueislamique d'Iran c. Etats-Unis
d'Amérique), exception préliminaire, arrêt, C. I.J. Recueil 1996 (II),
p. 810, par. 16);
26. Considérant que la définitiondu génocide,figurant à l'article IIde
la convention sur le génocide,se lit comme suit:

«Dans la présente convention le génocide s'entendde I'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 :

a) meurtre de membres du groupe; LEGALlTY OF USE OF FORCE (ORDER 2 VI 99) 490

diction such that the Court can consider the merits" of the case; whereas
it observes in this connection that "the allegations made by the Federal
Republicof Yugoslavia against Italy concern, in particular, a violation of
international obligations obviously not caught - even indirectly - by

the Genocide Convention"; and whereas, with regard to the tenth claim
formulated in the Yugoslav Application (see paragraph 4 above), that is
to Say,the only claim in which the applicant State "appears to invoke the
violation of obligations under the Convention", Italy considers that
"[mlanifestly, both the subjectiveelement and the objectiveelement of the
crime of genocide are lacking"; whereas it States, inter alia, with regard
to the objective element, that the "action taken by the NATO Member
States is directed at the territory of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia
and not at its people" and that "the concept of 'genocide' does not cover
action relating to the whole of the population of a State"; whereas it con-
tends, with regard to the subjective element, that there is "absence of the
psychological component of the crime [of genocide] - the deliberate and

intentional desire to achieve its inherent objective,namely the destruction
of al1or part of a national, ethnic, racial or religious group as such";

24. Whereas it is not disputed that both Yugoslavia and Italy 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" ofthe Convention, including disputes "relating to the
responsibility of a State for genocide or for any of the other acts enumer-

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 Genocide Convention 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 by Yugoslavia are capable of fallingwithin the provisions
of that instrument and whether, as a consequence, the dispute is one
which the Court has jurisdiction ratione materiae to entertain pursuant
to Article IX (cf. Oil Platforms (Islamic Republic of Iran v. United States
of Americu), Preliminury Objection, Judgrnent, 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:

"In 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, as such:

(LI) Killing members of the group;491 LICEITEDE L'EMPLOI DE LA FORCE (ORD. 2 VI 99)

b) atteinte grave à l'intégritéphysique ou 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;
ej transfert forcé d'enfants du groupe à un autre groupe));

27. Considérant qu'il apparaît à la Cour, d'après cettedéfinition,((que
la caractéristique essentielle du génocideest la destruction intentionnelle
d'un ((groupe national, ethnique, racial ou religieux))))pplication de lu
convention pour lu prkvention et lu répression ducrime de génocide,me-
sures conservatoires, ordonnunce du 13 septembre 1993, C.1.J. Recueil
1993, p. 345, par. 42); que le recours ou la menace du recours à l'emploi
de la force contre un Etat ne sauraient en soi constituer un acte de géno-
cide au sens de I'articleII de la convention sur le génocide;et que, de
l'avis de la Cour, il n'apparaît pas au présentstade de la procédure que

lesbombardements quiconstituent l'objet de la requêteyougoslave «corn-
porte[nt] effectivement l'élémendt'intentionnalité,dirigécontre un groupe
comme tel, que requiert la disposition sus-citée))Licéitéde la menuce ou
de l'emploi d'urmes nucléuircs,uvis consultutif: C.I.J. Recueil 1996 (I),
p. 240, par. 26);
28. Considérant que la Cour n'est dès lors pas en mesure de conclure,
a ce stade de la procédure, que les actes que la Yougoslavie impute au
défendeur seraientsusceptibles d'entrer dans les prévisionsde la conven-
tion sur le génocide;et que I'articleIX de la convention, invoquépar la
Yougoslavie, ne constitue partant pas une base sur laquelle la compé-
tence de la Cour pourrait prinlu fucie êtrefondéedans le cas d'espèce;

29. Considérantque laYougoslavie, dans sa requête, prétend en second
lieu fonder la compétencede la Cour sur le paragraphe 5 de I'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 à 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 acceptéla compétencede la Cour aux
fins de l'affaire));

30. Considérant que l'Italie soutient que la référencefaite par la You-
goslavie au paragraphe 5 de I'article 38 du Règlement démontre que la
Partie demanderesse ((estconsciente du fait qu'au moment du dépôtde sa
requête iln'existait aucun titre en vigueur entre la Républiquefédéralde
Yougoslavie et l'Italie conférant compétencea la Cour)); et qu'elle pré-
cise que le Gouvernement italien ((n'entend aucunement accepter la com-
pétencede la Cour à connaître du fond)) de l'affaire; (6) Causing serious bodily or mental harm to members of the

group ;
(c) Deliberately inflicting on the group conditions of life calculated
to bring about its physical destruction in whole or in part;
(cl) 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'" (Application of the Conven-
tiotz on tlie Prevention uncl Purzislitl~et f the Crime of Genocide, Provi-
siorztll Metrszrres, Order of 13 Septe~nber 1993, I.C.J. Reports 1993,
p. 345, para. 42); whereas the threat or use of force against a State can-

not in itself constitute an act of genocide within the meaning of Article II
of the Genocide Convention; and whereas, in the opinion of the Court, it
does not appear at the present stage of the proceedings that the bombings
which form the subject of the Yugoslav Application "indeed entail the
element of intent, towards a group as such, required by the provision
quoted above" (Legulity of the Threut or (/.seoJ'Nucleur Weupons, Adili-
sorj, 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
Coiîvention; and whereas Article IX of the Convention, invoked by
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, nos 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 Italy contends that the reference made by Yugoslavia to
Article 38, paragraph 5, of the Rules of Court shows that the Applicant

was "aware, when it submitted its Application, that there was no existing
title" between the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and Italy conferring
jurisdiction on the Court; and it points out that the Italian Government
"has no intention of consenting to the Court's jurisdiction to consider the
merits" :492 LICÉITÉ DE L'EMPLOI DE LA FORCE (ORD.2 VI 99)

31. Considérant qu'il est manifeste que, en l'absence de consentement
de l'Italie donnéconformémentau paragraphe 5 de l'article 38 du Règle-
ment, la Cour ne saurait avoir compétencedans la présente affaire,même
prima fucie;

32. Considérant qu'il résultede ce qui précèdeque la Cour n'a pas
prima fucie compétencepour connaître de la requête dela Yougoslavie;
et qu'elle ne saurait dès lors indiquer quelque mesure conservatoire que
ce soit àl'effet de protéger les droits qui y sont invoqués;
33. Considérant toutefois que les conclusions auxquelles la Cour est
parvenue en la présenteprocédurene préjugenten rien la compétence de
la Cour pour connaître du fond de I'affaire sur la base de I'article IX 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 italien de faire valoir
leurs moyens en la matière;
34. Considérant que la Cour ne saurait par suite accéder, à ce stade de
la procédure, a la demande de l'Italie tendant àce que l'affaire soit rayée
du rôle;

35. Considérantqu'il existe une distinction fondamentale entre 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;

36. 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 relatifà la licéitde tels
actes doit êtreréglépar des moyens pacifiques dont le choix est laisséaux
parties conformément a l'article 33 de la Charte;
37. Considérant que dans ce cadre les parties doivent veiller à ne pas
aggraver ni étendrele différend;
38. Considérant que, lorsqu'un tel différend suscite une menacecontre
la paix, une rupture de la paix ou un acte d'agression, le Conseil de sécu-
rité est investide responsabilités spécialeen vertu du chapitre VI1 de la
Charte; 31. Whereas it is quite clear that, in the absence of consent by Italy,
given pursuant to Article 38, paragraph 5, of the Rules, the Court cannot
exercisejurisdiction 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 the Court 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 Italy to sub-
mit arguments in respect of those questions;
34. Whereas in consequence the Court cannot, at this stage of the pro-
ceedings, accedeto Italy's request that the case be removed from the List;

35. 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;
36. Whereas, whether or not 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;
37. Whereas in this context the parties should take care not to aggra-

vate or extend the dispute;
38. 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 VI1of the Charter;493 LICÉITÉDE L'EMPLOIDE LA FORCE (ORD. 2 VI 99)

39. Par ces motifs,

1) Par treize voix contre trois,
Rejette la demande en indication de mesures conservatoires présentée

par la République fédéralede Yougoslavie le 29 avril 1999;
POUR: M. Weeramantry, vice-président,faisant Jonction de président en
l'uflaire; M. Schwebel, président de la Cour; MM. Oda, Bedjaoui,
Guillaume, Ranjeva, Herczegh, Fleischhauer, Koroma, Mn" Higgins,
MM. Parra-Aranguren, Kooijmans,juges; M. Gaja, juge ad hoc;

CONTRE: MM. Shi, Vereshchetin,juges; M. Kreéa,juge ad hoc;

2) Par quinze voix contre une,
Réserve la suite de la procédure.

POUR: M. Weeramantry, vice-président,fuisant fonction de président en
l'affaire;. Schwebel,prksident de la Cour; MM. Bedjaoui, Guillaume,
Ranjeva, Herczegh,Shi, Fleischhauer,Koroma, Vereshchetin,MmeHiggins,
MM. Parra-Aranguren, Kooijmans,juges; MM.Gaja, Kreca,juges ad hoc;
CONTRE: M. Oda,juge.

Fait en français et en anglais, le texte français faisant foi, au Palais de
la Paix, à La Haye, le deux juin mil neuf cent quatre-vingt-dix-neuf, en

trois exemplaires, dontl'un restera déposéaux archives de la Cour et les
autres seront transmis respectivement au Gouvernement de la République
fédéralede Yougoslavie et au Gouvernement de la République italienne.

Le vice-président,

(Signé) Christopher G. WEERAMANTRY.

Le greffier,
(Signé) Eduardo VALENCIA-OSPINA

M. WEERAMANTRY, vice-président, faisant fonction de président en
l'affaireMM. SHI,KOROM et VERESHCHETIN, juges, etM. GAJA uge ad
hoc, joignent des déclarations à l'ordonnance.

MM. ODA et PARRA-ARANGUREN, juges, joignent lil'ordonnance les
exposésde leur opinion individuelle.

16 39. For these reasons,

(1) By thirteen 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 FAVOURV : ice-Presidrnt Weeramantry, Acting President; President
Schwebel;Judgcs Oda, Bedjaoui.Guillaume, Ranjeva, Herczegh, Fleisch-
hauer, Koroma, Higgins, Parra-Aranguren, KooiJmans; Judge ad hoc
Gaja ;
AGAINSJT u:dges Shi, Vereshchetin;Judge ad hoc KreCa;

(2) By fifteen votes to one,

Reserves the subsequent procedure for further decision.
IN FAVOUR : Vicr-President Weeramantry, Acting President ; President
Schwebel;Judges Bedjaoui, Guillaume, Ranjeva, Herczegh, Shi, Fleisch-

hauer, Koroma, Vereshchetin, Higgins, Parra-Aranguren, Kooijmans;
Juclgesad hoc Gaja, KreCa;
AGAINST :Judge Oda.

Done in French and in English, the French text being authoritative, at
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 Italian

Republic, respectively.

(Signed) Christopher G. WEERAMANTRY,

Vice-President.

(Signed) Eduardo VALENCIA-OSPINA,
Registrar.

Vice-President WEERAMANTRA Yc,ting President, Judges SHI,KOROMA
and VERESHCHETIaN n,d Judge ad hoc GAJAappend declarations to the
Order of the Court.

Judges ODAand PARRA-ARANGURE aNpend separate opinions to the
Order of the Court.

16 M. KRECA j,ge ud hoc, joinà l'ordonnance l'exposéde son opinion
dissidente.

(Paraphé) C.G.W.
(Paraphé) E.V.O. Judge ad hoc KRECA appends a dissenting opinion to the Order of the
Court.

(Initiulled) C.G.W.
(Initialled) E.V.O.

ICJ document subtitle

Request for the Indication of Provisional Measures

Document file FR
Document Long Title

Order of 2 June 1999

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