Withdrawal of Counter-claims by the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia

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21104 '01 SAT 09:14 FAX+31 70 3802421

The Hague2 n A DR 2 1101.
GrootHertogrnneYaa~O
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tlx33199 yuamb ni
AMI'iACAAA CABE3HE PEnYI'iJU1KE JYJ"OCnABMJE
EMBASSVOF THE FEOERJL REPUBUCOF YUGOSLAVIA
DE AMEIASSAOEVAN BOI'·DSREPUBUEKJOEGOSL.AVIE

Sir.

On behalfofthe Govemmentofthe FederalRepublicofYugoslavia, 1am
hereby withdrawingthe counterclaimscontainedinthe Counter-Memorialof23 July
1997submittedbythe FederalRepublicofYugoslavia (paragraphs 3-6,pages 1084-

1085) inthe CaseConcerningthe ApplicationoftheConventionon the Preventionand
Punishmentofthe Crimeof Genocide(Bosnia-Herzegovinav. Yugoslavia).
The JudgmentofJuly 11 1996on PreliminaryObjectionsin the CaseBosnia­

Herzegovina v. Yugoslaviaoverruledthe objectionstojurisdictionthenpresentedby
the Federal RepublicofYugoslavia. Thisrulingleftno ether choiceandallowedno
ether party conductbut to take a positionregardingthe substanceofthe claimThe
FederalRepublicofYugoslavia didso bysub.mittina counter-memorialon 23 July
1997, inw~ùc ihcontestedthe allegationsof tclaimand presented counterclaims.

The same c.ourseof actionwould haveto be followedif the rulingonjurisdictionwere
confirmed.It is the convictionof theFederalRepublicofYugoslavia, however, that
new facts haveput theissueofjurisdictioninaodifferentperspectiveandintroduced

conclusiveevidenceto theeffectthat thisCourt didnothave and does not have
jurisdiction overthe FederalRepublicofYugoslavia rationaepersonaeThe
withdrawalof the counterclaimsis consistentwiththis conviction,iisbased on
the perceptiothatthe Courtbas nojurisdictionoverthe FederalRepublicof

Yugoslaviain thicase. TheFederalRepublicofYugoslavia notes that it intendsto
submit an c=.pplicator revisionofthe Judgmentof 11July1996.
Tht withdrawalofthe counterclaimsisfurthersupported by the fathathe
new Governmentof the FederalRepublicofYugosl.aviastronglybelievesthat the

periodof c:mflictsand disputesmustbe left behind,athat thtwo countrieshaveto
movetoward anera of cooperation andami cableresolutionofpendingdisputes.
Furthermore,the point ofview ofthe new Govemmentof the FederalRepublic
ofYugoslavia is that ttragedies ofBosniacs, Serbs,Croats and ethers inBosniaand

Herzegovinado require aresponse ofthe machineryofj~ti cueh,P.ight be more -
appropriatrtoseekjusticethrough nationaland internatio!lalproceediDgs,which
wouldyieldpunishmentofindividualperpetrators, ratheiliâpunishmentof the
collectiveso whichthe perpetratorsbelong.

Pro essor TiborVarady
Agent ofthe FederalRepublicofYugoslavia

Mr. PhilippeCouvreur

Registrar
International Couof Justice
TheHague