Order of 2 June 1999

Document Number
113-19990602-ORD-01-00-EN
Document Type
Incidental Proceedings
Date of the Document
Document File
Bilingual Document File

COUR INTERNATIONALE DE JUSTICE

RECUEIL DES ARRÊTS,
AVIS CONSULTATIFS ET ORDONNANCES

AFFAIRE RELATIVE À LA LICÉITÉ

DE L'EMPLOI DE LA FORCE
(YOUGOSLAVIE CROYAUME-UNI)

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 vUNITED KINGDOM)

REQUEST FOR THE INDICATION OF PROVISIONAL
MEASURES

ORDER OF 2 JUNE 1999 Mode officiel de citation:
Lickitéde l'emploidhforce (Yougoslavie c. Royaume-Uni),
mesures conservatoires, ordonnancedun 1999,
C.IJ.Recueil 1999, p. 826

Officia1citat:on
Legality of Use of Force (Yugoslavia v. United Kingdom),
Provisional Measures.der of 2 June 1999,
IC.J. Reports 199p.826

Noe en: 735 1
ISSN 0074-4441 Sales number
ISBN 92-1-070803-2 2 JUIN 1999

ORDONNANCE

LICÉITÉ DE L'EMPLOI DE LA FORCE

(YOUGOSLAVIE C.ROYAUME-UNI)

DEMANDE EN INDICATION DE MESURES
CONSERVATOIRES

LEGALITY OF USE OF FORCE
(YUGOSLAVIA v.UNITED KINGDOM)

REQUEST FOR THE INDICATION OF PROVISIONAL

MEASURES

2 JUNE 1999

ORDER INTERNATIONAL COURT OF JUSTICE

YEAR 1999 1999
2 June
2 June 1999 GNo. 113List

CIASECONCERNING

LEGALITY OF USE OF FORCE

(YUGOSLAVIA v.UNITED KINGDOM)

REQUEST FOR THE INDICATION OF PROVISIONAL
MEASURES

ORDER

Present: Vice-President WEERAMANTRA Yc,ting President; President
SCHWEBELJ;udges ODA, BEDJAOUIG , UILLAUMER, ANJEVA,
HERCZEGH,SHI, FLEISCHHAUERK , OROMA,VERESHCHETIN,
HIGGINS,PARRA-ARANGUREK NO, OIJMANSJ;udge ad hoc
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
Articles 73 and 74 of thees of Court,
Having regard to the Application by the Federal Republic of Yugo-
slavia (hereinafter "E'ugoslavia") filed in the Registry of the Court on
29 April 1999, instituting proceedings against the United of
Great Britain and Northerneland (hereinafter "the United Kingdom")
"for violation of the obligation not to use force", Makes tlzefollowing 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 United King-
dom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland by which it has violated
its international obligation banning the use of force against another
State, the obligation not to intervene in theterna1affairs of another
State, the obligation not toviolate the sovereignty of another State,
the obligation to protect the civilian population and civilianobjects
in wartime, the obligation to protect the environment, the obligation
relating to free navigation on international rivers, the obligation
regarding fundamental human rights and freedoms, the obligation
not to use prohibited weapons, the obligation not to deliberately
inflict conditions of life calculated to cause the physical destruction
of a national group";

2. Whereas in the said Application Yugoslavia refers, as a basis for the
jurisdiction of the Court, to Article 36, paragraph2, of the Statute of the
Court and to Article IX of the Convention on the Prevention and Pun-
ishment of the Crime of Genocide, adopted by the General Assembly of

the United Nations on 9 December 1948(hereinafter the "Genocide Con-
vention") ;
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 United Kingdom of Great Britain and
Northern Ireland, together with the Governments of other Member
States of NATO, took part in the acts of 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 Repub-
lie of Yugoslavia military and civilian targets were attacked. Great
number of people were killed, including a great many civilians. Resi-
dential houses came under attack. Numerous 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 refineries and chemical plants have had
serious environmental effects on cities, towns and villages in the
Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. The use of weapons containing
depleted uranium is having far-reaching consequences for human
life. The above-mentioned acts are deliberately creating conditions
calculated at the physical destruction of anethnic group, in whole or

in part. The Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain
and Northern Ireland is taking part in the training, arming, finan- cing, equipping and supplying the so-called 'Kosovo Liberation
Army'";

and whereas it further states that the said claims are based on the follow-
ing legal grounds:

"The above acts of the British Government represent a gross vio-
lation of the obligation not to use force against another State. By
financing, arming, training and equippingthe so-called 'Kosovo Lib-
eration Army', support is given to terrorist groups and the secession-
ist 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 1949 and of the Additional Protocol No. 1 of 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 United Kingdom
of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is taking part are contrary to
Article 53, paragraph 1, of the Charter of the United Nations";

4. Whereas the clairns 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 United Kingdom of Great Britain
and Northern Ireland 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 Uriited Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ire-
land has acted against the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia in

breach of its obligation not to intervene in the affairs of another
State:by taking part in attacks on civilian targets, the United Kingdom

of Great Britain and Northern Ireland has acted against the Fed-
eral 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 United Kingdom of Great Britain and
Northern Ireland has acted against the Federal Republic of
Yugoslavia in breach of its obligation not to commit any act of
hostility directed against historical monuments, works of art or
places of worship which constitute cultural or spiritual heritage
of people ;
by taking part in the use of cluster bombs, the United Kingdom
of Great Britain and Northern Ireland has acted against the Fed-
eral Republic of Yugoslavia in breach of its obligation not to use
prohibited weapons, i.e. weapons calculated to cause unneces-
sary suffering:
by taking part in the bombing of oil refineries and chemical
plants, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ire-

land has acted against the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia in
breach of its obligation not to cause considerable environmental
damage ;
by taking part in the use of weapons containing depleted ura-
nium, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ire-
land 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 United Kingdom
of Great Britain and Northern Ireland has acted against the Fed-
eral 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
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland has
acted against the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia in breach of

its obligation to respect freedom of navigation on international
rivers;
by taking part in activities listed above, and in particular by
causing enormous environmental damage and by using depleted
uranium, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern
Ireland has acted against the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia in
breach of its obligation not to deliberately inflict on a national
group conditions of life calculated to bring about its physical
destruction, in whole or in part; LEGALITY OF USE OF FORCE (ORDER 2 VI 99) 830

- the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is
responsible for the violation of the above international obliga-
tions;
- the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is

obliged to stop immediately the violation of the above obliga-
tions vis-A-visthe Federal Republic of Yugoslavia;

the United Kingdom of Great Britzin and Northern lreland 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 ainend and supplement it;
5. Whereas on 29 April 1999,immediately after filing its Application,

Yugoslavia also subniitted 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 sus-
tained serious injuries; that the lives of three million children are endan-
gered; that hundreds of thousands of citizens have been exposed to poi-
sonous gases; that about one million citizens are short of water supply;

that about 500,000 workers have become jobless; that two million citi-
zens have no means 'oflivelihood 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 ail-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
tàcilities, 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 United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
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 1kindly ask the Court to decide
on the submitted Requests proprio moru or to fixa date for a hearing
at earliest possible time";

9. Whereas on 29 April 1999, the day on which the Application and
the i-equest for the indication of provisional measures were filed in the
Registry, the Registrar sent to the Government of the United Kingdom
signed copies of the Application and of the request, in accordance with
Article 38, paragraph 4, and Article 73, paragraph 2, of the Rules of
Court; and whereas he also sent to that Government copies of the docu-
ments accompanying the Application and the request for the indication
of provisional measures;

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 1101dhearings on 10and II May 1999,where they would beable to present their observations on the request forthe indication of pro-
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
Yugoslav nationality, the Yugoslav Government has availed itself of the
provisions of Article 31 of the Statute of the Court to choose Mr.

Milenko Kreiia to 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;
13. Whereas, at the public hearings held between 10and 12May 1999,
observations on the request for the indication of provisional measures
were presented by the following:

On behulf of Yugoskrviu:
Mr. Rodoljub Etiriski, Agent,
Mr. Ian Brownlie,
Mr. Paul J.1. M. de Waart,

Mr. Eric Suy,
Mr. Miodrag Mitic,
Mr. Olivier Corten;
On brhulf'of'the United Kingdom

Sir Franklin D. Berman, Agent,
The Rt. Hon. John Morris,
Mr. Christopher Greenwood ;

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

On behalf of Yugoslirviu:
"[Tlhe Court [is asked] to indicate the following provisional

measure :
[Tlhe United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ...
shall cease immediately the actsof use of force and shall refrain from
any act of threiit or use of force against the Federal Republic of
Y ugoslavia" ;

On helzulf'of the United Kingdom:

"The United Kingdom respectfully requests the Court summarily LEGALITY OF USE OF FORCE (ORDER 2 VI 99) 833

to dismiss the Request for the Indication of Provisional Measures
submitted by the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia."

15. Whereas the Court is deeply concerned with the human tragedy,
the loss of life, and the enormous suffering in Kosovo which form the

background of the present dispute, and with the continuing loss of life
and human suffering in al1parts of Yugoslavia;

16. Whereas the Court is profoundly concerned with the use of force
in Yugoslavia; whereas under the present circumstances such use raises
very serious issues of international law;
17. Whereas the Court is mindful of the purposes and principles of the
United Nations Charter and of its own responsibilities in the mainte-
nance of peace and security under the Charter and the Statute of the
Court ;
18. Whereas the Court deems it necessary to emphasize that al1parties
appearing before it must act in conformity with their obligations under
the United Nations Charter and other rules of international law, includ-

ing humanitarian law;

19. Whereas the Court. under its Statute. does not automaticallv have
jurisdiction over legal disbutes between States parties to that Statute or
between other States to whom access to the Court has been granted;
whereas the Court has repeatedly stated "that one of the fundamental
principles of its Statute is that it cannot decide a dispute between States
without the consent of those States to itsjurisdiction"(Eust Timor (Por-
tugal v.Australia), Judgment, I.C.J.Reports 1995, p. 101,para. 26);and
whereas the Court can therefore exercisejurisdiction only between States
parties to a dispute who not only have access to the Court but also have

accepted the jurisdiction of the Court, either in general form or for the
individual dispute concerned;
20. Whereas on a request for provisional measures the Court need not,
before deciding whether or not to indicate them, finally satisfy itself that
it has jurisdiction on the merits of the case, yet it ought not to indicate
such measures unless the provisions invoked by the applicant appear,
priina facie, to afford a basis on which thejurisdiction of the Court might
be established;

21. Whereas in its Application Yugoslavia claims, in the first place, to
found the jurisdiction of the Court upon Article 36, paragraph 2, of theStatute; whereas each of the two Parties has made a declaration recog-
nizing the compulsory jurisdiction of the Court pursuant to that provi-
sion; whereas Yugoslavia's declaration was deposited with the Secretary-

General of the Unitecl Nations on 26 April 1999, and that of the United
Kingdom on 1 January 1969;
22. Whereas Yugoslavia's declaration is formulated as follows :

"1hereby declare that the Government of the Federal Republic of

Yugoslavia recognizes, in accordance wjth Article 36, paragraph 2,
of the Statute of the International Court of Justice, as compulsory
ipso facto and without special agreement, in relation to any other
State accepting the same obligation, that is on condition of recipro-
city, the jurisdiction of the said Court in al1disputes arising or which
may arise after the signature of the present Declaration, with regard

to the situations or facts subsequent to this signature, except in cases
where the parties have agreed or shall agree to have recourse to
another procedure or to another method of pacifie settlement. The
present Declaration does not apply to disputes relating to questions
which, under international law, fall exclusively within the jurisdic-
tion of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, as well as to territorial

disputes.
The aforesaid obligation is accepted until such time as notice may
be given to terminate the acceptance";

and whereas the declaration of the United Kingdom reads as follows:

"1 have the honour, by direction of Her Majesty's Principal Sec-
retary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, to declare
on behalf of the Government of the United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Northern lreland that they accept as compulsory ipso
facto and without special convention, on condition of reciprocity,
the jurisdiction of the International Court of Justice, in conformity

with paragraph 2 of Article 36 of the Statute of the Court, until such
time as notice niay be given to terminate the acceptance, over al1
disputes arising after 24 October 1945, with regard to situations or
facts subsequent to the same date, other than:

(i) any dispute which the United Kingdom
(0) has agreed with the other Party or Parties thereto to settle
by some other method of peaceful settlement; or

(6) has already submitted to arbitration by agreement with
any State which had not at the time of submission accepted
the compulsory jurisdiction of the International Court of
Justice;

(ii) disputes with the government of any other country which is a
Member of the Commonwealth with regard to situations or
facts existing before 1January 1969 ; LEGALlTY OF USE OF FORCE (ORDER 2 VI 99) 835

(iii) disputes in respect of which any other Party to the dispute has
accepted the compulsory jurisdiction of the International Court
of Justice only in relation to or for the purpose of the dispute;
or where the acceptance of the Court's compulsory jurisdiction
on behalf of any other Party to the dispute was deposited or

ratified less than twelve months prior to the filing of the appli-
cation bringing the dispute before the Court.
2. The Government of the United Kingdom also reserves the
right at any time, by means of a notification addressed to the Secre-

tary-General of the United Nations, and with effect as from the
moment of such notification, either to add to, amend or withdraw
any of the foregoing reservations, or any that may hereafter be
added." ;

23. Whereas the United Kingdom contends that the Court's jurisdic-
tion cannot be founded upon Article 36, paragraph 2, of the Statute of
the Court in this case, in view of the reservations contained in its declara-

tion; and whereas it observes in particular that, under the terms of sub-
paragraph (iii) of the first paragraph of that declaration, it does not
recognize the jurisdiction of the Court in respect of

"(iii) disputes in respect of which any other Party to the dispute has
accepted the compulsory jurisdiction of the International Court of
Justice only in relation to or for the purposes of the dispute; or
where the acceptance of the Court's compulsory jurisdiction on
behalf of any other Party to the dispute was deposited or ratified less
than twelve months prior to the filing of the application bringing the

dispute before the Court.";
whereas the United Kingdom argues that Yugoslavia's declaration '7s in

substance an attempt to accept the jurisdiction of the Court solely for the
purpose of a single dispute"; and whereas the United Kingdom stresses
that, as Yugoslavia's declaration was deposited only three days before
the date of the Application, "[ilt is self-evident .. . that it fails to meet the
twelve month requirement in the second clause of the United Kingdom
reservation"; and whereas the United Kingdom accordingly concludes

that Yugoslavia's declaration "cannot provide even a prima facie basis
for the exercise of jurisdiction";
24. Whereas Yugclslavia submitted no argument on this point;

25. Whereas, giverithat Yugoslavia deposited itsdeclaration of accept-
ance of the compulsory jurisdiction of the Court with the Secretary-

General on 26 April 1999, and filed its Application instituting proceed-
ings with the Court on 29 April 1999, there can be no doubt that the
conditions for the exclusion of the Court's jurisdiction provided for
in the second part of subparagraph (iii) of the first paragraph of the
United Kingdom's declaration are satisfied in this case; whereas, as the LEGALITY OF USE OF FORCE (ORDER 2 VI 99) 836

Court recalled in its Judgment of 4 December 1998in the Fisheries Juris-
diction (Spain v. Canada) case,

"It is for each State, in formulating its declaration. to decide upon
the limits it places upon its acceptance of the jurisdiction of the
Court: '[tlhisjurisdiction only exists within the limits within which
it has been accepted' (Phosphates in Morocco, Judgment, 1938,
P.C.I.J., Series .4/B. No. 74, p. 23)" (1.C.J. Reports 1998, p. 453,
para. 44);
and whereas, as the Court noted in its Judgment of 1I June 1998in the

case concerning the Land and Maritime Boundary betrveen Cameroon
und Nigeria (Cameroon v. Nigeria), "[als early as 1952,it heldin the case
concerning Anglo-lranian Oil Co. that .. . 'jurisdiction is conferred on
the Court only to the extent to which the [declarations made] coincide in
conferring it'(1.C.J. Reports 1952, p. 103)" (1.C.J. Reports 1998, p. 298,
para. 43); and whereas the declarations made by the Parties under
Article 36, paragraph 2, of the Statute manifestly cannot constitute a
basis of jurisdiction in the present case, even prima facie;

26. Whereas the United Kingdom, referring to resolution 777 (1992)
of the United Nations Security Council, dated 19September 1992,and to
resolution 4711of the United Nations General Assembly, dated 22 Sep-
tember 1992,also contends that, since Yugoslavia cannot be regarded as
a Member of the United Nations or as a party to the Statute of the
Court, it could not establish a jurisdictional link with parties to theStat-
ute by purporting to make a declaration under Article 36, paragraph 2;

27. Whereas Yugoslavia, referring to the position of the Secretariat, as
expressed in a letter dated 29 September 1992from the Legal Counsel of
the Organization (doc. A/47/485), and to the latter's subsequent practice,
contends for its part that General Assembly resolution 4711"[neither] ter-
minate[d] nor suspend[ed] Yugoslavia's membership in the Organiza-
tion", and that the said resolution did not take away from Yugoslavia
"[its] right to participate in the work of organs other than Assembly
bodies" ;

28. Whereas, in view of its finding in paragraph 25 above, the Court
need not consider this question for the purpose of deciding whether or
not it can indicate provisional measures in the present case;

29. Whereas in its Application Yugoslavia claims, in the second place,
to found thejurisdiction of the Court on Article IX of the Genocide Con-
vention, which provides: LEGALlTY OF USE OF FORCE (ORDER 2 VI 99) 837

"Disputes between the Contracting Parties relating to the interpre-
tation, application or fulfilment of the present Convention, including
those relating to the responsibility of a State for genocide or for any
of the other acts enumerated in article III, shall be submitted to the
International Court of Justice at the request of any of the parties to
the dispute";

and whereas in its Application Yugoslavia states that the subject of the
dispute concerns inter alia"acts of the United Kingdom of Great Britain
and Northern Ireland by which it has violated its international obligation
. .. not to deliberately inflict conditions 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 obligation . . .not to impose deliberately
on a national group conditions of lifecalculated to bring about the physi-
cal destruction of the group has been breached"; and whereas one of the
clainls 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 United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern
Ireland 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";
30. 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 awai-e, "impl[y] the intent to destroy, in whole or in part, the
Yugoslav national group as such;

31. Whereas for its part the United Kingdom denies that Article 1Xof
the CienocideConvention could constitute a prima facie basis ofjurisdic-
tion in this case, because it applies not to disputes in general, but only to
displites regarding "the interpretation, application or fulfilment" of theConvention: and whereas the United Kingdom emphasizes that Yugo-
slavia has failed to adduce any specificevidence of violations of the Con-
vention and has not established the intent required thereunder;

32. Whereas it is not disputed that both Yugoslavia and United King-
don1 are parties to the Genocide Convention without reservation; and
whereas Article 1Xof 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,
application or fulfilment" of the Convention, including disputes "relating
to the responsibility of a State for genocide or for any of the other acts
enumerated in article III"of the said Convention;
33. 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 falling within 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. OilPlatforms (Islamic Republic of Iran v. United States
of America), Prelimivlary Objection, Judgment, I.C.J. Reports 1996 (II),
p. 810, para. 16);
34. 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, assuch:

(u) 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 lifecalculated
to bring about its physical destruction in whole or in part;

(d) Imposing measures intended to prevent births within the group;
(e) Forcibly transferring children of the group to another group";
35. 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-
tion on the Prevention and Punishnzent of the Crime of Genocide, Provi-
sional Measures, Order of 13 September 1993, I.C.J. Reports 1993,
p. 345, para. 42); whereas the threat or use of force against a State can-
not in 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 theelenient of intent, towards a group as such, required by the provision
quoted above" (Legulity of the Threut or Use of Nuclear Weapons, Advi-
sory Opinion, I.C.J. Reports 1996 11), p. 240, para. 26) ;

36. Whereas the Court is therefore not in a position to find, at this
stage of the proceedings, that the acts imputed by Yugoslavia to the
Respondent are capable of coming within the provisions of the Genocide
Convention; and whereas Article IX of the Convention, invoked by
Yugoslavia, cannot accordingly constitute a basis on which the jurisdic-
tion of the Court could prima facie be founded in this case;

37. Whereas it follows from what has been said above that the Court
lacks prima faciejurisdiction to entertain Yugoslavia's Application; and
whereas it cannot therefore indicate any provisional measure whatsoever
in order to protect the rights invoked therein;
38. 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 the United
Kingdom to submit arguments in respect of those questions;

39. 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;
40. 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;
41. Whereas in this context the parties should take care not to aggra-
vate or extend the dispute;
42. 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
responsibilities under Chapter VI1of the Charter; 43. For these reasons,

(1) By twelve votes to three,

Rejects the request for the indication of provisional measures submit-
ted by the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia on 29 April 1999;

IN FAVOUR: Vice-President Weeramantry, Acting President; President
Schwebel; Judges Oda, Bedjaoui, Guillaume, Ranjeva, Herczegh,
Fleischhauer, Koroma, Higgins, Parra-Aranguren, Kooijmans;

AG~INST Ju:dges Shi, Vereshchetin;Judge ad hoc Kreca;

(2) By fourteen votes to one,

Rrserves the subsequent procedure for further decision.
IN FAVOUR:Vice-Pr~sident Weeramantry, Acting President; President
Schwebel: Judges Bedjaoui, Guillaume, Ranjeva, Herczegh, Shi,
Fleischhauer, Koroma, Vereshchetin, Higgins, Parra-Aranguren,
Kooijmans; Judge ad hoc Kreca;

AGAINSJ Tu:dge 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
United Kingdom, respectively.

(Signed) Christopher G. WEERAMANTRY,
Vice-President.

(Signed) Eduardo VALENCIA-OSPINA,

Registrar.

Vice-President WEERAMANTRY A,cting President, and Judges SHI,
KOROMAand VERESHCHETIaN ppend declarations to the Order of the
Court.

Judges ODA, HIGGINS,PARRA-ARANGUREaN nd KOOIJMANaS ppend
separate opinions to the Order of the Court. Judge ad hoc KRECA appends a dissenting opinion to the Order of the
Court.

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

Bilingual Content

COUR INTERNATIONALE DE JUSTICE

RECUEIL DES ARRÊTS,
AVIS CONSULTATIFS ET ORDONNANCES

AFFAIRE RELATIVE À LA LICÉITÉ

DE L'EMPLOI DE LA FORCE
(YOUGOSLAVIE CROYAUME-UNI)

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 vUNITED KINGDOM)

REQUEST FOR THE INDICATION OF PROVISIONAL
MEASURES

ORDER OF 2 JUNE 1999 Mode officiel de citation:
Lickitéde l'emploidhforce (Yougoslavie c. Royaume-Uni),
mesures conservatoires, ordonnancedun 1999,
C.IJ.Recueil 1999, p. 826

Officia1citat:on
Legality of Use of Force (Yugoslavia v. United Kingdom),
Provisional Measures.der of 2 June 1999,
IC.J. Reports 199p.826

Noe en: 735 1
ISSN 0074-4441 Sales number
ISBN 92-1-070803-2 2 JUIN 1999

ORDONNANCE

LICÉITÉ DE L'EMPLOI DE LA FORCE

(YOUGOSLAVIE C.ROYAUME-UNI)

DEMANDE EN INDICATION DE MESURES
CONSERVATOIRES

LEGALITY OF USE OF FORCE
(YUGOSLAVIA v.UNITED KINGDOM)

REQUEST FOR THE INDICATION OF PROVISIONAL

MEASURES

2 JUNE 1999

ORDER COUR INTERNATIONALE DE JUSTICE

1999 ANNÉE 1999
2 juin
Rôle général
no 113 2 juin1999

AFFAIRE RELATIVE À LA LICÉITÉ

DE L'EMPLOI DE LA FORCE

(YOUGOSLAVIE C.ROYAUME-UNI)

DEMANDE EN INDICATION DE MESURES
CONSERVATOIRES

ORDONNANCE

Présents: M. WEERAMANTR Yi,e-président,fuisunt fonction de pré-
sident enI'uffuireM. SCHWEBEL pésident de lu Cour;
MM. ODA, BEDJAOUI,GUILLAUMER , ANJEVA,HERCZEGH,
SHI,FLEISCHHAUK ER,ROMA, VERESHCHETIN, MmCHIGGINS,
MM. PARRA-ARANGURK EO,OIJMANS, juges; M. KRECA,
juge ad hoc; M. VALENCIA-OSPIN geffier.

La Cour internationale de Justice.
Ainsi composée,

Après délibéré enhambre du conseil,
Vu les articles 41 et 48 du Statut de la Cour et les articlesde
son Règlement,
Vu la requête déposépear la Républiquefédéralede Yougoslavie (ci-

aprèsdénommée la ((Yougoslavie)))au Greffe de la Cour le29 avril 1999,
par laquelle elle a introduit une instance contre le Royaume-Uni de
Grande-Bretagne et d'Irlande du Nord (ci-aprèsdénomméle ((Royaume-
Uni))) ((pour violation de l'obligation de ne pas àl'emploi de la
force», INTERNATIONAL COURT OF JUSTICE

YEAR 1999 1999
2 June
2 June 1999 GNo. 113List

CIASECONCERNING

LEGALITY OF USE OF FORCE

(YUGOSLAVIA v.UNITED KINGDOM)

REQUEST FOR THE INDICATION OF PROVISIONAL
MEASURES

ORDER

Present: Vice-President WEERAMANTRA Yc,ting President; President
SCHWEBELJ;udges ODA, BEDJAOUIG , UILLAUMER, ANJEVA,
HERCZEGH,SHI, FLEISCHHAUERK , OROMA,VERESHCHETIN,
HIGGINS,PARRA-ARANGUREK NO, OIJMANSJ;udge ad hoc
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
Articles 73 and 74 of thees of Court,
Having regard to the Application by the Federal Republic of Yugo-
slavia (hereinafter "E'ugoslavia") filed in the Registry of the Court on
29 April 1999, instituting proceedings against the United of
Great Britain and Northerneland (hereinafter "the United Kingdom")
"for violation of the obligation not to use force",827 LICÉITÉ DE L'EMPLOI DE LA FORCE (ORD. 2 VI 99)

Rend l'ordonnancr suivante :
1. Considérant que, dans cette requête,la Yougoslavie définit l'objet

du différend ainsique suit:
((L'objet du différendporte sur les actes commis par le Royaume-
Uni de Grande-Bretagne et d'Irlande du Nord, en violation de son

obligation internationale de ne pas recourir à l'emploi de la force
contre un autre Etat, de I'obligation de ne pas s'immiscer dans les
affaires intérieuresd'un autreEtat, de l'obligation de ne pas porter
atteinte a la souveraineté d'unautre Etat, de l'obligation de protéger
les populations civiles et les biens de caractère civil en temps de
guerre, de l'obligation de protéger I'environnement,de l'obligation
touchant à la libertéde navigation sur les cours d'eau internatio-
naux, de I'obligation concernant les droits et libertésfondamentaux
de la personne humaine, de l'obligation de ne pas utiliser des armes
interdites, de I'obligation de ne pas soumettre intentionnellement un
groupe national à des conditions d'existencedevant entraîner sa des-
truction physique));

2. Considérant que, dans ladite requête,la Yougoslavie, pour fonder
la compétencede la Cour, invoque le paragraphe 2 de l'article 36 du Sta-
tut de la Cour et l'articleIX de la convention pour la prévention et la
répression du crime de génocide,adoptée par l'Assemblée générale des

Nations Unies le 9 décembre 1948 (ci-après dénomméela ((convention
sur le génocide)));
3. Considérant que, dans sa requête,la Yougoslavie expose que les
demandes qu'elle soumet a la Cour sont fondéessur les faits ci-après:

((Le Gouvernement du Royaume-Uni de Grande-Bretagne et
d'Irlande du Nord, conjointement avec les gouvernements d'autres
Etats membres de l'OTAN. a recouru àl'emploide la force contre la
République fédéralede Yougoslavie en prenant part au bombarde-
ment de cibles dans la Républiquefédéralede Yougoslavie. Lors des
bombardements de la Républiquefédérale de Yougoslavie, des cibles
militaires et civilesont éattaquées.Un grand nombre de personnes
ont ététuées,dont de trèsnombreux civils. Des immeublesd'habita-
tion ont subi des attaques. Un grand nombre d'habitations ont été
détruites. D'énormesdégâtsont été causéa s des écoles, deshôpi-
taux, des stations de radiodiffusion et de télévision, desstructures
culturelles et sanitaires, ainsi qu'à des lieux de culte. Nombre de
ponts, routes et voies de chemin de fer ont étédétruits.Les attaques

contre des raffineries de pétrole et des usines chimiques ont eu de
graves effets dommageables pour I'environnement de villeset de vil-
lages de la République fédéralede Yougoslavie. L'emploi d'armes
contenant de l'uranium appauvri a de lourdes conséquencespour la
vie humaine. Les actes susmentionnés ont pour effet de soumettre
intentionnellement un groupe ethnique à des conditions devant Makes tlzefollowing 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 United King-
dom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland by which it has violated
its international obligation banning the use of force against another
State, the obligation not to intervene in theterna1affairs of another
State, the obligation not toviolate the sovereignty of another State,
the obligation to protect the civilian population and civilianobjects
in wartime, the obligation to protect the environment, the obligation
relating to free navigation on international rivers, the obligation
regarding fundamental human rights and freedoms, the obligation
not to use prohibited weapons, the obligation not to deliberately
inflict conditions of life calculated to cause the physical destruction
of a national group";

2. Whereas in the said Application Yugoslavia refers, as a basis for the
jurisdiction of the Court, to Article 36, paragraph2, of the Statute of the
Court and to Article IX of the Convention on the Prevention and Pun-
ishment of the Crime of Genocide, adopted by the General Assembly of

the United Nations on 9 December 1948(hereinafter the "Genocide Con-
vention") ;
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 United Kingdom of Great Britain and
Northern Ireland, together with the Governments of other Member
States of NATO, took part in the acts of 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 Repub-
lie of Yugoslavia military and civilian targets were attacked. Great
number of people were killed, including a great many civilians. Resi-
dential houses came under attack. Numerous 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 refineries and chemical plants have had
serious environmental effects on cities, towns and villages in the
Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. The use of weapons containing
depleted uranium is having far-reaching consequences for human
life. The above-mentioned acts are deliberately creating conditions
calculated at the physical destruction of anethnic group, in whole or

in part. The Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain
and Northern Ireland is taking part in the training, arming, finan- entraîner sa destruction physique totale ou partielle. Le Gouverne-
ment du Royaume-Uni de Grande-Bretagne et d'Irlande du Nord
prend part à I'entraînement, àl'armement, au financement, a I'équi-
pement et à l'approvisionnement de la prétendue((arméede libéra-
tion du Kosovo));

et considérant qu'elle indique en outre que lesdites demandes reposent
sur les fondements juridiques suivants:

«Les actes susmentionnésdu Gouvernement britannique consti-
tuent une violation flagrante de I'obligation de ne pas recourir à
l'emploi de la force contre un autre Etat. En finançant, armant,
entraînant et équipantla prétendue((arméede libérationdu Kosovo)),
le Gouvernement britannique apporte un appui a des groupes terro-
ristes et au mouvement sécessionnistesur le territoire de la République
fédéralede Yougoslavie, en violation de I'obligation de ne pas s'im-
miscer dans les affaires intérieuresd'un autre Etat. De surcroît, les
dispositions de la convention de Genèvede 1949et du protocole addi-
tionnelno 1de 1977relatives a la protection des civilset des biens de
caractèrecivil entemps de guerre ont étéviolées.IIy a eu aussi viola-

tion de I'obligation de protégerl'environnement. La destruction de
ponts sur le Danube enfreint lesdispositions del'article la conven-
tion de 1948relative a la libertéde navigation sur le Danube. Lesdis-
positions du pacte international relatif aux droits civilset politiques et
du pacte international relatif aux droits économiques, sociauxet cultu-
rels de 1966ont elles aussiétéviolées.En outre, I'obligationénoncée
dans la convention pour la préventionet la répressiondu crime de
génocidede ne pas soumettre intentionnellement un groupe national
à des conditions d'existencedevant entraîner sa destruction physique
a étéviolée.De plus, les activitésauxquelles le Royaume-Uni de
Grande-Bretagne et d'Irlande du Nord prend part sont contraires

au paragraphe 1de l'article 53 de la Charte des Nations Unies));
4. Considérant que les demandes de la Yougoslavie sont ainsi formu-
léesdans la requête:

«Le Gouvernement de la Républiquefédérale de Yougoslavie prie
la Cour internationale de Justice de dire et juger:
- qu'en prenant part aux bombardements du territoire de la Répu-
blique fédérale de Yougoslavie, le Royaume-Uni de Grande-Bre-
tagne et d'Irlande du Nord a agi contre la Républiquefédérale
de Yougoslavie, en violation de son obligation de ne pas recourir

à l'emploi de la force contre un autre Etat;
- qu'en prenant part a l'entraînement, a l'armement, au finance-
ment, à l'équipementet à l'approvisionnement de groupes terro-
ristes,à savoir la prétendue «arméede libérationdu Kosovo)), le
Royaume-Uni de Grande-Bretagne et d'Irlande du Nord a agi
contre la Républiquefédérale de Yougoslavie, en violation de son
obligation de ne pas s'immiscerdans les affaires d'un autre Etat; cing, equipping and supplying the so-called 'Kosovo Liberation
Army'";

and whereas it further states that the said claims are based on the follow-
ing legal grounds:

"The above acts of the British Government represent a gross vio-
lation of the obligation not to use force against another State. By
financing, arming, training and equippingthe so-called 'Kosovo Lib-
eration Army', support is given to terrorist groups and the secession-
ist 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 1949 and of the Additional Protocol No. 1 of 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 United Kingdom
of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is taking part are contrary to
Article 53, paragraph 1, of the Charter of the United Nations";

4. Whereas the clairns 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 United Kingdom of Great Britain
and Northern Ireland 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 Uriited Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ire-
land has acted against the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia in

breach of its obligation not to intervene in the affairs of another
State:829 LICEITÉ DE L'EMPLOI DE LA FORCE (ORD. 2 VI 99)

qu'en prenant part à des attaques contre des cibles civiles, le
Royaume-Uni de Grande-Bretagne et d'Irlande du Nord a agi
contre la République fédéralede Yougoslavie, en violation de
son obligation d'épargner la population civile, les civils et les
biens de caractère civil;
qu'en prenant part à la destruction ou à l'endommagement de
monastères, d'édificesculturels, le Royaume-Uni de Grande-
Bretagne et d'Irlande du Nord a agi contre la République fédé-

rale de Yougoslavie, en violation de son obligation de ne pas
commettre d'actes d'hostilitédirigéscontre des monuments his-
toriques, des Œuvres d'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, le
Royaume-Uni de Grande-Bretagne et d'Irlande du Nord a agi
contre la Républiquefédéralede Yougoslavie, en violation de son
obligation de ne pas utiliser des armes interdites, c'est-à-dire
des armes de nature à causer des maux superflus;
qu'en prenant part aux bombardements de raffineries de pétrole
et d'usines chimiques, le Royaume-Uni de Grande-Bretagne et
d'Irlande du Nord a agi contre la République fédéralede You-
goslavie, en violation de son obligation de ne pas causer dedom-
mages substantiels à I'environnement;

qu'en recourant à l'utilisation d'armes contenant de l'uranium
appauvri, le Royaume-Uni de Grande-Bretagne et d'Irlande du
Nord a agi contre la Républiquefédéralede Yougoslavie, en vio-
lation de son obligation de ne pas utiliser des armes interdites et
de ne pas causer de dommages de grande ampleur à la santéetà
l'environnement ;
qu'en prenant part au meurtre de civils,à la destruction d'entre-
prises, de moyens de communication et de structures sanitaires et
culturelles, le Royaume-Uni de Grande-Bretagne et d'Irlande du
Nord a agi contre la Républiquefédéralede Yougoslavie, en vio-
lation de son obligation de respecter le droià la vie, le droit au
travail, le droià l'information, le droit aux soins de santéainsi
aue d'autres droits fondamentaux de la Dersonne humaine:
qu'en prenant part àla destruction de ponts situéssur des cours

d'eau internationaux, le Royaume-Uni de Grande-Bretagne et
d'Irlande du Nord a agi contre la République fédéralede You-
goslavie, en violation de son obligation de respecter la liberté de
navigation sur les cours d'eau internationaux;
qu'en prenant part aux activités énumérées ci-dessu et en parti-
culier en causant des dommages énormes àI'environnement et en
utilisant de l'uranium appauvri, le Royaume-Uni de Grande-Bre-
tagne et d'Irlande du Nord a agi contre la Républiquefédéralede
Yougoslavie, en violation de son obligation de ne pas soumettre
intentionnellement un groupe national à des conditions d'exis-
tence devant entraîner sa destruction physique totale ou partielle;by taking part in attacks on civilian targets, the United Kingdom

of Great Britain and Northern Ireland has acted against the Fed-
eral 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 United Kingdom of Great Britain and
Northern Ireland has acted against the Federal Republic of
Yugoslavia in breach of its obligation not to commit any act of
hostility directed against historical monuments, works of art or
places of worship which constitute cultural or spiritual heritage
of people ;
by taking part in the use of cluster bombs, the United Kingdom
of Great Britain and Northern Ireland has acted against the Fed-
eral Republic of Yugoslavia in breach of its obligation not to use
prohibited weapons, i.e. weapons calculated to cause unneces-
sary suffering:
by taking part in the bombing of oil refineries and chemical
plants, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ire-

land has acted against the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia in
breach of its obligation not to cause considerable environmental
damage ;
by taking part in the use of weapons containing depleted ura-
nium, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ire-
land 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 United Kingdom
of Great Britain and Northern Ireland has acted against the Fed-
eral 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
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland has
acted against the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia in breach of

its obligation to respect freedom of navigation on international
rivers;
by taking part in activities listed above, and in particular by
causing enormous environmental damage and by using depleted
uranium, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern
Ireland has acted against the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia in
breach of its obligation not to deliberately inflict on a national
group conditions of life calculated to bring about its physical
destruction, in whole or in part;830 LICÉITEDE L'EMPLOIDE LA FORCE(ORD. 2 VI 99)

que le Royaume-Uni de Grande-Bretagne et d'Irlande du Nord
porte la responsabilitéde la violation des obligations internatio-
nales susmentionnées;
que le Royaume-Uni de Grande-Bretagne et d'Irlande du Nord
est tenu de mettre fin immédiatement à la violation des obliga-
tions susmentionnées à l'égard de la République fédéralede
Yougoslavie ;
que le Royaume-Uni de Grande-Bretagne et d'Irlande du Nord

doit réparation pour les préjudices causés à la République
fédéralede Yougoslavie ainsi qu'à ses citoyens et personnes
morales );

et considérant qu'au terme de sa requête la Yougoslaviese réservele
droit de modifier et de complétercelle-ci;
5. Considérant que, le 29 avril 1999,immédiatementaprèsle dépôtde
sa requête, la Yougoslavie aen outre présentéune demande en indication
de mesures conservatoires invoquant l'article 73 du Règlement de la
Cour; et que la demande était accompagnée d'un volume d'annexes pho-

tographiques produites à titre de «preuves»;
6. Considérant que, àl'appui de sa demande en indication de mesures
conservatoires, la Yougoslavie soutient notamment que, depuis le début
des bombardements contre son territoire, et du fait de ceux-ci, environ
mille civils,dont dix-neuf enfants, ont été tués eptlus dequatre millecinq
cents griévement blessésq ; ue la vie de trois millions d'enfants est mena-
cée;que des centaines de milliers de personnes ont étéexposées àdes gaz
toxiques; qu'environ un million de personnes sont privéesd'approvision-
nement en eau; qu'environ cinq cent mille travailleurs ont perdu leur
emploi; que deux millions de personnes sont sans ressources et dans
l'impossibilitéde se procurer le minimum vital; et que les réseauxroutier

et ferroviaire ont subi d'importants dégâts; considérant que, dans sa de-
mande en indication de mesures conservatoires, la Yougoslavie énumère
par ailleurs les cibles qui auraientétéviséespar les attaques aériennes
et décrit en détail les dommages qui leur auraient étéinfligés(ponts,
gares et lignes de chemins de fer, réseauroutier et moyens de transport,
aéroports,commerce et industrie, raffineries et entrepôts de matièrespre-
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 à des conditions d'exis-
tence devant entraîner la destruction physique totale ou partielle de
ce groupe ); LEGALITY OF USE OF FORCE (ORDER 2 VI 99) 830

- the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is
responsible for the violation of the above international obliga-
tions;
- the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is

obliged to stop immediately the violation of the above obliga-
tions vis-A-visthe Federal Republic of Yugoslavia;

the United Kingdom of Great Britzin and Northern lreland 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 ainend and supplement it;
5. Whereas on 29 April 1999,immediately after filing its Application,

Yugoslavia also subniitted 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 sus-
tained serious injuries; that the lives of three million children are endan-
gered; that hundreds of thousands of citizens have been exposed to poi-
sonous gases; that about one million citizens are short of water supply;

that about 500,000 workers have become jobless; that two million citi-
zens have no means 'oflivelihood 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 ail-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
tàcilities, 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" ;831 LICÉITÉ DE L'EMPLOI DE LA FORCE (ORD. 2 VI 99)

7. Considérant que, au terme de sa demande en indication de mesures
conservatoires, la Yougoslavie préciseque

«Si les mesures demandéesne sont pas adoptées,il y aura de nou-
velles pertes en vies humaines, de nouvelles atteintes 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»;

et considérant que, tout en se réservantle droit de modifier et de com-
plétersa demande, elle prie la Cour d'indiquer la mesure suivante:

«Le Royaume-Unide Grande-Bretagne et d'Irlande du Nord doit
cesser immédiatementde recourir à l'emploi de la force et doit s'abs-
tenir de tout acte constituant une menace de recours ou un recours
l'emploi de la force contre la Républiquefédéralede Yougoslavie»;

8. Considérant que la demande en indication de mesures conser-
vatoires était accompagnée d'une lettre de l'agent de la Yougoslavie,
adresséeau 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 1999à midi et entraînéla mort de civils,pour la plupart des
enfants et des femmes, et de vous rappeler les morts deKursumlija,
Aleksinac et Cuprija, ainsi que le bombardement d'un convoi de
réfugiéset de l'immeuble abritant la radio et la télévisionserbes,
pour ne citer que quelques exemplesdes atrocitésque chacun connaît.
Je tiens en conséquence à prévenirla Cour qu'il est fort probable
qu'il y aura encore d'autres victimes civileset militaires.

Considérant le pouvoir conféré à la Cour aux termes du para-
graphe 1de l'article75de son Règlement, etcompte tenu de l'extrême
urgence de la situation néedes circonstances décritesdans les de-
mandes en indication de mesures conservatoires, je prie la Cour de
bien vouloir se prononcer d'officesur lesdemandes présentéesou de
fixerune date pour la tenued'une audience dans les meilleursdélais»;

9. Considérant que, le 29 avril 1999, date à laquelle la requête et la
demande en indication de mesures conservatoires ont étédéposéesau
Greffe, le greffier a fait tenir au Gouvernement britannique des copies
signéesde la requêteet de la demande, conformément au paragraphe 4 de
l'article 38 et au paragraphe 2 de l'articledu Règlementde la Cour; et
qu'il a également fait teniraudit gouvernement une copie des documents
qui accompagnaient la requêteet la demande en indication de mesures
conservatoires;
10. Considérant que, le 29 avril 1999,le greffier a aviséles Parties que
la Cour avait décidé,conformément au paragraphe 3 de l'article 74 de
son Règlement, de tenir audience les 10 et 11 mai 1999aux fins de les 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 United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
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 1kindly ask the Court to decide
on the submitted Requests proprio moru or to fixa date for a hearing
at earliest possible time";

9. Whereas on 29 April 1999, the day on which the Application and
the i-equest for the indication of provisional measures were filed in the
Registry, the Registrar sent to the Government of the United Kingdom
signed copies of the Application and of the request, in accordance with
Article 38, paragraph 4, and Article 73, paragraph 2, of the Rules of
Court; and whereas he also sent to that Government copies of the docu-
ments accompanying the Application and the request for the indication
of provisional measures;

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 1101dhearings on 10and II May 1999,where they would be832 LICÉITÉ DE L'EMPLOI DE LA FORCE (ORD. 2 VI 99)

entendre en leurs observations sur la demande en indication de mesures
conservatoires ;
11. Considérantqu'en attendantque la communication prévueau para-
graphe 3 de l'article 40du Statut et l'article42 du Règlementde la Cour
ait étéeffectuéepar transmission du texte bilingue impriméde la requête
aux Membres des Nations Unies et aux autres Etats admis a ester devant
la Cour, le greffier a, le 29 avril 1999,informéces Etats du dépôt de la
requête etde son objet, ainsi que du dépôtde la demande en indication

de mesures conservatoires;
12. Considérant que, la Cour ne comptant pas sur le siègede juge de
nationalitéyougoslave, le Gouvernement yougoslave a invoquélesdispo-
sitions de l'article du Statut de la Cour et a désignéM. Milenko Kreka
pour siégeren qualitéde juge ad hoc en l'affaire; et qu'aucune objection
a cette désignation n'a étésoulevéedans le délaifixéa cet effet en vertu
du paragraphe 3de l'article 35 du Règlementde la Cour;
13. Considérant que, aux audiences publiques qui ont ététenues entre
le 10et le 12mai 1999,des observations orales sur la demande en indica-
tion de mesures conservatoires ont été présentées:

au non?de la Yougosluvie:

par M. Rodoljub Etinski, agent,
M. Ian Brownlie,
M. Paul J. 1.M. de Waart,
M. Eric Suy,
M. Miodrag Mitik,
M. Olivier Corten;

au nom LIU Royautne- Uni:

par sir Franklin Berman, ugenf,
le très honorable John Morris,
M. Christopher Greenwood;

14. Considérant que, dans cette phase de la procédure,les Parties ont
présentéles conclusions suivantes:
au non1de la Yougoslavie:

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

[Le] Royaume-Uni de Grande-Bretagne et d'Irlande du Nord ...
doit[t] cesser immédiatement de recourir à l'emploi de la force et
doi[t] s'abstenir de tout acte constituant une menace de recours ou
un recours a l'emploi de la force contre la République fédéralede
Yougoslavie » ;

au nom du Royaume-Uni:
«Le Royaume-Uni prie respectueusement la Cour de rejeterable to present their observations on the request forthe indication of pro-
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
Yugoslav nationality, the Yugoslav Government has availed itself of the
provisions of Article 31 of the Statute of the Court to choose Mr.

Milenko Kreiia to 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;
13. Whereas, at the public hearings held between 10and 12May 1999,
observations on the request for the indication of provisional measures
were presented by the following:

On behulf of Yugoskrviu:
Mr. Rodoljub Etiriski, Agent,
Mr. Ian Brownlie,
Mr. Paul J.1. M. de Waart,

Mr. Eric Suy,
Mr. Miodrag Mitic,
Mr. Olivier Corten;
On brhulf'of'the United Kingdom

Sir Franklin D. Berman, Agent,
The Rt. Hon. John Morris,
Mr. Christopher Greenwood ;

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

On behalf of Yugoslirviu:
"[Tlhe Court [is asked] to indicate the following provisional

measure :
[Tlhe United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ...
shall cease immediately the actsof use of force and shall refrain from
any act of threiit or use of force against the Federal Republic of
Y ugoslavia" ;

On helzulf'of the United Kingdom:

"The United Kingdom respectfully requests the Court summarily833 LICEITÉ DE L'EMPLOI DE LA FORCE (ORD.2 VI 99)

d'embléela demande en indication de mesures conservatoires pré-
sentéepar la Républiquefédéralede Yougoslavie»;

15. Considérant que la Cour est profondément préoccupéepar le
drame humain, les pertes en vies humaines et lesterribles souffrances que
connaît le Kosovoetqui constituent la toile de fond du présent différend,
ainsi que par les victimes et les souffrances humaines que l'on déplorede

façon continue dans l'ensemble de la Yougoslavie;
16. Considérant que la Cour est fortement préoccupéepar l'emploi de
la force en Yougoslavie; que, dans les circonstances actuelles, cet emploi
soulèvedes problèmes trèsgraves de 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
les parties qui se présententdevant elledoivent agir conformément àleurs
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 déclaréa maintes reprises «que l'un des
principes fondamentaux de son Statut est qu'elle ne peut trancher un dif-
férendentre des Etats sans que ceux-ci aient consenti A sa juridiction))
(Timor orientul (Portugal c. Australie), arr;t, C.I.J. Recueil 1995,
p. 101, par. 26); et que la Cour ne peut donc exercer sa compétence à
l'égardd'Etats parties à un différendque si ces derniers ont non seule-
ment accès à la Cour, mais ont en outre acceptésa 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'ellea compétencequant au fond de l'affaire. mais qu'ellene peut indi-
quer ces mesures que si les dispositions invoquéespar le demandeur sem-
blent prima fucie constituer une base sur laquelle la compétencede la
Cour pourrait êtrefondée;

21. Considérant que la Yougoslavie, dans sa requête, prétenden pre-
mier lieu fonder la compétencede la Cour sur le paragraphe 2 de I'ar- LEGALITY OF USE OF FORCE (ORDER 2 VI 99) 833

to dismiss the Request for the Indication of Provisional Measures
submitted by the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia."

15. Whereas the Court is deeply concerned with the human tragedy,
the loss of life, and the enormous suffering in Kosovo which form the

background of the present dispute, and with the continuing loss of life
and human suffering in al1parts of Yugoslavia;

16. Whereas the Court is profoundly concerned with the use of force
in Yugoslavia; whereas under the present circumstances such use raises
very serious issues of international law;
17. Whereas the Court is mindful of the purposes and principles of the
United Nations Charter and of its own responsibilities in the mainte-
nance of peace and security under the Charter and the Statute of the
Court ;
18. Whereas the Court deems it necessary to emphasize that al1parties
appearing before it must act in conformity with their obligations under
the United Nations Charter and other rules of international law, includ-

ing humanitarian law;

19. Whereas the Court. under its Statute. does not automaticallv have
jurisdiction over legal disbutes between States parties to that Statute or
between other States to whom access to the Court has been granted;
whereas the Court has repeatedly stated "that one of the fundamental
principles of its Statute is that it cannot decide a dispute between States
without the consent of those States to itsjurisdiction"(Eust Timor (Por-
tugal v.Australia), Judgment, I.C.J.Reports 1995, p. 101,para. 26);and
whereas the Court can therefore exercisejurisdiction only between States
parties to a dispute who not only have access to the Court but also have

accepted the jurisdiction of the Court, either in general form or for the
individual dispute concerned;
20. Whereas on a request for provisional measures the Court need not,
before deciding whether or not to indicate them, finally satisfy itself that
it has jurisdiction on the merits of the case, yet it ought not to indicate
such measures unless the provisions invoked by the applicant appear,
priina facie, to afford a basis on which thejurisdiction of the Court might
be established;

21. Whereas in its Application Yugoslavia claims, in the first place, to
found the jurisdiction of the Court upon Article 36, paragraph 2, of the834 LICÉITÉ DE L'EMPLOI DE LA FORCE (ORD. 2 VI 99)

ticle 36 du Statut; que chacune des deux Parties a fait une déclaration
reconnaissant la juridiction obligatoirede la Cour en vertu de cette dis-
position; que la déclaration de la Yougoslavie a été déposéeauprès du
Secrétaire généralde l'organisation des Nations Unies le 26 avril 1999,
et celle du Royaume-Uni le le'janvier 1969;
22. Considérant que la déclaration de la Yougoslavie est ainsi conçue:

[Traduction du Grejfe]

<Je déclarepar la présenteque le Gouvernement de la République
fédéralede Yougoslavie, conformément au paragraphe 2 de I'ar-
ticle 36 du Statut de la Cour internationale de Justice, reconnaît
comme obligatoire de plein droit et sansconvention spéciale,àl'égard
de tout autre Etat acceptant la même obligation, c'est-à-dire sous
condition de réciprocité,lajuridiction de la Cour pour tous les diffé-
rends, surgissant ou pouvant surgir après la signature de la présente

déclaration, qui ont trait à des situations ou à des faits postérieurs à
ladite signature, à l'exception des affairespour lesquellesles parties ont
convenu ou conviendront d'avoir recours à une autre procédure ou à
une autre méthode de règlement pacifique. La présente déclaration
ne s'applique pas aux différendsrelatifs à des questions qui, en vertu
du droit international, relèvent exclusivement de la compétence de la

République fédéralede Yougoslavie, ni aux différends territoriaux.
L'obligation susmentionnée n'est acceptée que pour une période
qui durera jusqu'à notification de l'intention d'y mettre fin));

et que la déclaration du Royaume-Uni se lit comme suit:
«S'ai l'honneur, d'ordre du principal secrétaire d'Etat de Sa

Majesté aux affaires étrangères et aux affaires du Commonwealth,
de déclarer que le Gouvernement du Royaume-Uni de Grande-
Bretagne et d'Irlande du Nord reconnaît comme obligatoire de plein
droit et sans convention spéciale, sous condition de réciprocité,la
juridiction delaCour internationalede Justice,conformément au para-
graphe 2 de l'article 36 du Statut de la Cour et jusqu'à ce qu'il soit
donné notification de l'abrogation de cette acceptation, en ce qui

concerne tous les différendsnésaprès le 24 octobre 1945 qui ont trait
à des situations ou A des faits postérieurs à ladite date, autres que:
i) les différends que le Royaume-Uni

u) et l'autre ou les autres parties seraient convenus de régler
selon un autre mode de règlement pacifique, ou
b) aurait déjà soumis a l'arbitrage par voie d'entente avec un
Etat qui n'aurait pas, l'époquede cette soumission, accepté
la juridiction obligatoire de la Cour internationale de Sus-

tic;
ii) les différends avec le gouvernement d'un autre pays membre du
Commonwealth, qui ont trait à des situations ou à des faits anté-
rieurs au 1" janvier 1969;Statute; whereas each of the two Parties has made a declaration recog-
nizing the compulsory jurisdiction of the Court pursuant to that provi-
sion; whereas Yugoslavia's declaration was deposited with the Secretary-

General of the Unitecl Nations on 26 April 1999, and that of the United
Kingdom on 1 January 1969;
22. Whereas Yugoslavia's declaration is formulated as follows :

"1hereby declare that the Government of the Federal Republic of

Yugoslavia recognizes, in accordance wjth Article 36, paragraph 2,
of the Statute of the International Court of Justice, as compulsory
ipso facto and without special agreement, in relation to any other
State accepting the same obligation, that is on condition of recipro-
city, the jurisdiction of the said Court in al1disputes arising or which
may arise after the signature of the present Declaration, with regard

to the situations or facts subsequent to this signature, except in cases
where the parties have agreed or shall agree to have recourse to
another procedure or to another method of pacifie settlement. The
present Declaration does not apply to disputes relating to questions
which, under international law, fall exclusively within the jurisdic-
tion of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, as well as to territorial

disputes.
The aforesaid obligation is accepted until such time as notice may
be given to terminate the acceptance";

and whereas the declaration of the United Kingdom reads as follows:

"1 have the honour, by direction of Her Majesty's Principal Sec-
retary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, to declare
on behalf of the Government of the United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Northern lreland that they accept as compulsory ipso
facto and without special convention, on condition of reciprocity,
the jurisdiction of the International Court of Justice, in conformity

with paragraph 2 of Article 36 of the Statute of the Court, until such
time as notice niay be given to terminate the acceptance, over al1
disputes arising after 24 October 1945, with regard to situations or
facts subsequent to the same date, other than:

(i) any dispute which the United Kingdom
(0) has agreed with the other Party or Parties thereto to settle
by some other method of peaceful settlement; or

(6) has already submitted to arbitration by agreement with
any State which had not at the time of submission accepted
the compulsory jurisdiction of the International Court of
Justice;

(ii) disputes with the government of any other country which is a
Member of the Commonwealth with regard to situations or
facts existing before 1January 1969 ;835 LICEITÉ DE L'EMPLOI DE LA FORCE (ORD. 2 VI 99)

iii) les différendsà l'égard desquelstoute autre partie en cause a
acceptéla juridiction obligatoire de la Cour internationale de
Justice uniquement en ce qui concerne lesdits différendsou aux
fins de ceux-ci, ou lorsque I'acceptation de la juridiction obliga-
toire de la Cour au nom d'une autre partie au différenda été
déposéeou ratifiéemoins de douze mois avant la date du dépôt

de la requêtepar laquelle la Cour est saisie du différend.
2. Le Gouvernement du Royaume-Uni se réserve égalementde
compléter, modifier ou retirer à tout moment, par voie de notifica-
tion adressée au Secrétairegénéralde l'Organisation des Nations
Unies, les réserves formulées ci-dessus outoutes autres réserves qu'il
pourrait formuler par la suite, lesdites réservescomplémentaires,les-
dites modifications ou lesdits retraits prenant effet compter de la
date de ladite notification;

23. Considérant quele Royaume-Uni fait valoir que la compétencede
la Cour ne saurait être fondée surle paragraphe 2 de l'article 36du Statut
de la Cour en l'espéce, euégardaux réservesque sa déclarationcontient;
et qu'il rappelle en particulier qu'aux termes de l'alinéaiii) du para-
graphe 1 de cette déclaration, il ne reconnaît pas la compétencede la
Cour en ce qui concerne

«iii) les différendà l'égard desquelstoute autre partie en cause a
acceptéla juridiction obligatoire de la Cour internationale de Justice
uniquement en ce qui concerne lesdits différends ou aux fins de
ceux-ci, ou lorsque I'acceptation de la juridiction obligatoire de la
Cour au nom d'une autre partie au différenda été déposé oeu rati-
fiéemoins de douze mois avant la date du dépôt de la requêtepar
laquelle la Cour est saisie du différend.));

considérant que le Royaume-Uni expose que la déclaration de la You-
goslavie «revient au fond à vouloir n'accepter la juridiction de la Cour
qu'aux fins d'un seul et unique différend));et qu'il souligneque, comme
cette déclaration n'a été déposé que trois jours avant la présentation de
la requète, «il est ..évidentque [ladite] déclaration ne répond pas au

délai de douze mois prescrit dans le second membre de phrase de la
réservedu Royaume-Uni)); et considérant queleRoyaume-Uni en conclut
que la déclaration de la Yougoslavie «ne peut pas fonder, fût-ce prima
facie, la compétence dela Cour en l'espèce));
24. Considérant que la Yougoslavie n'a présentéaucune argumenta-
tion à cet égard;
25. Considérant que, la Yougoslavie ayant déposésa déclaration
d'acceptation de lajuridiction obligatoire de la Cour auprèsdu Secrétaire
généralle 26 avril 1999, et ayant soumis sa requête introductived'ins-
tance à la Cour le 29 avril 1999,il ne fait aucun doute que les conditions
d'exclusion de la juridiction de la Cour spécifiéesans le second membre
de phrase de l'alinéaiii) du premier paragraphe de la déclaration du
Royaume-Uni sont remplies en l'espèce;considérant que, comme la Cour LEGALlTY OF USE OF FORCE (ORDER 2 VI 99) 835

(iii) disputes in respect of which any other Party to the dispute has
accepted the compulsory jurisdiction of the International Court
of Justice only in relation to or for the purpose of the dispute;
or where the acceptance of the Court's compulsory jurisdiction
on behalf of any other Party to the dispute was deposited or

ratified less than twelve months prior to the filing of the appli-
cation bringing the dispute before the Court.
2. The Government of the United Kingdom also reserves the
right at any time, by means of a notification addressed to the Secre-

tary-General of the United Nations, and with effect as from the
moment of such notification, either to add to, amend or withdraw
any of the foregoing reservations, or any that may hereafter be
added." ;

23. Whereas the United Kingdom contends that the Court's jurisdic-
tion cannot be founded upon Article 36, paragraph 2, of the Statute of
the Court in this case, in view of the reservations contained in its declara-

tion; and whereas it observes in particular that, under the terms of sub-
paragraph (iii) of the first paragraph of that declaration, it does not
recognize the jurisdiction of the Court in respect of

"(iii) disputes in respect of which any other Party to the dispute has
accepted the compulsory jurisdiction of the International Court of
Justice only in relation to or for the purposes of the dispute; or
where the acceptance of the Court's compulsory jurisdiction on
behalf of any other Party to the dispute was deposited or ratified less
than twelve months prior to the filing of the application bringing the

dispute before the Court.";
whereas the United Kingdom argues that Yugoslavia's declaration '7s in

substance an attempt to accept the jurisdiction of the Court solely for the
purpose of a single dispute"; and whereas the United Kingdom stresses
that, as Yugoslavia's declaration was deposited only three days before
the date of the Application, "[ilt is self-evident .. . that it fails to meet the
twelve month requirement in the second clause of the United Kingdom
reservation"; and whereas the United Kingdom accordingly concludes

that Yugoslavia's declaration "cannot provide even a prima facie basis
for the exercise of jurisdiction";
24. Whereas Yugclslavia submitted no argument on this point;

25. Whereas, giverithat Yugoslavia deposited itsdeclaration of accept-
ance of the compulsory jurisdiction of the Court with the Secretary-

General on 26 April 1999, and filed its Application instituting proceed-
ings with the Court on 29 April 1999, there can be no doubt that the
conditions for the exclusion of the Court's jurisdiction provided for
in the second part of subparagraph (iii) of the first paragraph of the
United Kingdom's declaration are satisfied in this case; whereas, as the836 LICÉITÉ DE L'EMPLOI DE LA FORCE (ORD. 2 VI 99)

l'a rappelédans son arrêtdu 4 décembre 1998en l'affaire de la Compé-
tence en matière de pêcheries(Espagne c. Canada),

((11appartient àchaque Etat, lorsqu'il formule sa déclaration, de
déciderdes limites qu'il assigneson acceptation de lajuridiction de
la Cour: «la juridiction n'existe que dans les termes où elle a été
acceptée))(Phosphute.~du Maroc, arrêt, 1938, C.P. J.1. serie AIB
no 74,p. 23)» (C.I.J.Recueil 1998, p. 453, par. 44);

et que, comme elle l'a notédans son arrêtdu Il juin 1998en l'affaire de
la Frontière terrestre et maritime entre le Cameroun et le Nigéria(Came-
roun c. Nigéria),« [dlès1952, ellea jugédans l'affaire deI'Anglo-Iranian
Oil Co. que ...((compétenceest conférée à la Cour seulement dans la
mesure où [lesdéclarations faites] coïncident pour la lui conférerC.I.J.
Recueil 1952, p. 103)))(C.I.J. Recueil 1998,p. 298, par. 43); et considé-
rant que les déclarations faites par les Parties conformément au para-
graphe 2 de l'article 36 du Statut ne sauraient manifestement pas consti-
tuer une base de compétencedans la présente affaire,même prima facie;

26. Considérant que, se référant à la résolution777 (1992),en date du
19septembre 1992,du Conseil de sécurité des Nations Unies, et a la réso-
lution 4711,en date du 22 septembre 1992,de l'Assemblée générale des

Nations Unies, le Royaume-Uni soutient aussi que la Yougoslavie ne
peut pas êtreconsidéréecomme un Etat Membre des Nations Unies ni
comme un Etat partie au Statut de la Cour, de sorte qu'elle ne saurait
établir de lien juridictionnel avec des Etats parties au Statut en préten-
dant faire une déclaration au sens du paragraphe 2 de l'article 36;
27. Considérantquela Yougoslavie, se référant à la position du Secré-
tariat, telle qu'expriméedans une lettre en date d29 septembre 1992du
conseillerjuridique de l'organisation des Nations Unies (doc. A/47/485),
ainsi qu'à la pratique ultérieurede celle-ci, soutient pour sa part que la
résolution 4711 de l'Assembléegénérale n'a<<pas[mis] fin à I'apparte-
nance de la Yougoslavie A l'organisation et ne [l'a pas suspendue] non
plus», ladite résolution n'ôtant pas la Yougoslavie <<ledroit de partici-

per aux travaux d'organes autres que ceux qui relèvent de l'Assemblée
générale» ;
28. Considérant que, eu égard à la conclusion à laquelle elle est
parvenue au paragraphe 25 ci-dessus, la Cour n'a pas à examiner cette
question a l'effet de décider si elle peut ou non indiquer des mesures
conservatoires dans le cas d'espèce:

29. Considérantque la Yougoslavie, dans sa requête, prétend en second
lieu fonder la compétencede la Cour sur l'article IX de la convention sur
le génocide,aux termes duquel: LEGALITY OF USE OF FORCE (ORDER 2 VI 99) 836

Court recalled in its Judgment of 4 December 1998in the Fisheries Juris-
diction (Spain v. Canada) case,

"It is for each State, in formulating its declaration. to decide upon
the limits it places upon its acceptance of the jurisdiction of the
Court: '[tlhisjurisdiction only exists within the limits within which
it has been accepted' (Phosphates in Morocco, Judgment, 1938,
P.C.I.J., Series .4/B. No. 74, p. 23)" (1.C.J. Reports 1998, p. 453,
para. 44);
and whereas, as the Court noted in its Judgment of 1I June 1998in the

case concerning the Land and Maritime Boundary betrveen Cameroon
und Nigeria (Cameroon v. Nigeria), "[als early as 1952,it heldin the case
concerning Anglo-lranian Oil Co. that .. . 'jurisdiction is conferred on
the Court only to the extent to which the [declarations made] coincide in
conferring it'(1.C.J. Reports 1952, p. 103)" (1.C.J. Reports 1998, p. 298,
para. 43); and whereas the declarations made by the Parties under
Article 36, paragraph 2, of the Statute manifestly cannot constitute a
basis of jurisdiction in the present case, even prima facie;

26. Whereas the United Kingdom, referring to resolution 777 (1992)
of the United Nations Security Council, dated 19September 1992,and to
resolution 4711of the United Nations General Assembly, dated 22 Sep-
tember 1992,also contends that, since Yugoslavia cannot be regarded as
a Member of the United Nations or as a party to the Statute of the
Court, it could not establish a jurisdictional link with parties to theStat-
ute by purporting to make a declaration under Article 36, paragraph 2;

27. Whereas Yugoslavia, referring to the position of the Secretariat, as
expressed in a letter dated 29 September 1992from the Legal Counsel of
the Organization (doc. A/47/485), and to the latter's subsequent practice,
contends for its part that General Assembly resolution 4711"[neither] ter-
minate[d] nor suspend[ed] Yugoslavia's membership in the Organiza-
tion", and that the said resolution did not take away from Yugoslavia
"[its] right to participate in the work of organs other than Assembly
bodies" ;

28. Whereas, in view of its finding in paragraph 25 above, the Court
need not consider this question for the purpose of deciding whether or
not it can indicate provisional measures in the present case;

29. Whereas in its Application Yugoslavia claims, in the second place,
to found thejurisdiction of the Court on Article IX of the Genocide Con-
vention, which provides:837 LICÉITÉ DE L'EMPLOI DE LA FORCE (ORD. 2 VI 99)

«Les différendsentre les Parties contractantes relatifà l'interpré-
tation, l'application ou l'exécutionde la présente convention, ycom-
pris ceux relatifsla responsabilitéd'un Etat en matièrede génocide
ou de l'un quelconque des autres actesénumérés à l'article III, seront
soumis à la Cour internationale de Justice, a la requêted'une partie
au différend» ;

et considérant que, dans sa requête,la Yougoslavie indique que l'objet du
différendporte notamment sur «les actescommis par le Royaume-Uni de
Grande-Bretagne et d'Irlande du Nord en violation de son obligation
internationale ..de ne pas soumettre intentionnellement un groupe natio-
nal à des conditions d'existence devant entraîner sa destruction phy-

sique)); qu'en décrivantlesfaits sur lesquels larequête estfondée,la You-
goslavie précise:«Les actes susmentionnés ont pour effet de soumettre
intentionnellement un groupe ethnique à des conditionsdevant entraîner
sa destruction physique totale ou partielle)); qu'en exposant les fonde-
ments juridiques de la requête,elle soutient que ((l'obligationde ne pas
soumettre intentionnellement un groupe national àdes conditions d'exis-
tence devant entraîner sa destruction physique a été violée))e;t que l'une
des demandes au fond contenues dans la requêteest ainsi formulée:

«qu'en prenant part aux activitésénuméréec si-dessus et en particu-
lier en causant des dommages énormes à I'environnement et en uti-
lisant de l'uranium appauvri, le Royaume-Uni de Grande-Bretagne
et d'Irlande du Nord a agi contre la Républiquefédéralede Yougo-
slavie, en violation de son obligation de ne pas soumettre intention-
nellement un groupe national à des conditions d'existence devant
entraîner sa destruction physique totale ou partielle));

30. 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 et de l'eau, la destruction de l'économiedu pays, la contamination

de I'environnement par de l'uranium appauvri reviennent à soumettre la
nation yougoslave à des conditions d'existence devant entraîner sa des-
truction physique)); qu'elle affirmeque c'est la nation yougoslave tout
entière,en tant que telle, qui est prise pour cible; et qu'elle souligneque
le recoursà 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 réseau d'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;
31. Considérant que le Royaume-Uni conteste pour sa part que I'ar-
ticle IX de la convention sur le génocide puisseconstituer une base de
compétence prima facie en l'espèce,parce qu'ils'agitd'une disposition qui
s'applique, non pas à tous lesdifférends,mais aux seuls différendsrelatifs LEGALlTY OF USE OF FORCE (ORDER 2 VI 99) 837

"Disputes between the Contracting Parties relating to the interpre-
tation, application or fulfilment of the present Convention, including
those relating to the responsibility of a State for genocide or for any
of the other acts enumerated in article III, shall be submitted to the
International Court of Justice at the request of any of the parties to
the dispute";

and whereas in its Application Yugoslavia states that the subject of the
dispute concerns inter alia"acts of the United Kingdom of Great Britain
and Northern Ireland by which it has violated its international obligation
. .. not to deliberately inflict conditions 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 obligation . . .not to impose deliberately
on a national group conditions of lifecalculated to bring about the physi-
cal destruction of the group has been breached"; and whereas one of the
clainls 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 United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern
Ireland 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";
30. 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 awai-e, "impl[y] the intent to destroy, in whole or in part, the
Yugoslav national group as such;

31. Whereas for its part the United Kingdom denies that Article 1Xof
the CienocideConvention could constitute a prima facie basis ofjurisdic-
tion in this case, because it applies not to disputes in general, but only to
displites regarding "the interpretation, application or fulfilment" of the838 LICÉITE DE L'EMPLOI DE LA FORCE (ORD. 2 VI 99)

à «l'interprétation, l'application ou l'exécution»de ladite convention; et
que le Royaume-Uni souligne que la Yougoslavie n'a produit aucun élé-
ment de preuve relatif à des violations de la convention et n'a pasétabli
l'élémenitntentionnel exigépar la convention;
32. Considérant qu'il n'est pascontestéque tant la Yougoslavie que le
Royaume-Uni sont parties à la convention sur le génocide,sans réserves;

et que l'articleIX de la convention semble ainsi constituer une base sur
laquelle la compétencede la Cour pourrait être fondéepour autant que
l'objet du différend ait trait ((l'interprétation,l'application ou l'exécu-
tion» de la convention, y compris les différends((relatifs à la responsa-
bilitéd'un Etat en matière de génocide oude I'un quelconque des autres
actes énumérés à I'article I»Ide ladite convention;
33. Considérant que, à l'effet d'établir,mêmeprima fucie, si un diffé-
rend au sens de I'article IX de la convention sur le génocide existe, la
Cour ne peut se borner à constater que l'une desparties soutient que la
convention s'applique alors que l'autre le nie; et que, au cas particulier,
elledoit rechercher si lesviolations de la convention alléguéesar la You-
goslavie sont susceptibles d'entrer dans les prévisions de cetinstrument et

si, par suite, le différend estde ceux dont la Cour pourrait avoir compé-
tence pour connaître ratione muteriae par application de I'article IX
(cf.Plates-formes pétroliires (République islamique d'Iran c. Etuts- Unis
d'Amérique), exception préliminaire, arrêt,C. 1J. Recueil 1996 (II),
p. 810, par. 16);
34. Considérant que la définitiondu génocide figurant à I'article II de
la convention sur le génocidese lit comme suit:

«Dans la présenteconvention 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;
b) atteinte graveà l'intégrité physiqueou mentale de membres du
groupe ;

c) soumission intentionnelle du groupe à des conditions d'existence
devant entraîner sa destruction physique totale ou partielle;
d) mesures visant à entraver les naissances au sein du groupe;
e) transfert forcéd'enfants du groupe à un autre groupe));
35. Considérant qu'il apparaît à la Cour, d'aprèscette définition,«que
la caractéristique essentielle du génocide estla destruction intentionnelle
d'un ((groupe national, ethnique, racial ou religieux))»(Application de la
convention pour la prévention et lu répressiondu crime de génocide,me-

sures conservatoires, ordonnance du 13 septembre 1993, C.I.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
les bombardements qui constituent l'objet de la requête yougoslaveConvention: and whereas the United Kingdom emphasizes that Yugo-
slavia has failed to adduce any specificevidence of violations of the Con-
vention and has not established the intent required thereunder;

32. Whereas it is not disputed that both Yugoslavia and United King-
don1 are parties to the Genocide Convention without reservation; and
whereas Article 1Xof 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,
application or fulfilment" of the Convention, including disputes "relating
to the responsibility of a State for genocide or for any of the other acts
enumerated in article III"of the said Convention;
33. 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 falling within 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. OilPlatforms (Islamic Republic of Iran v. United States
of America), Prelimivlary Objection, Judgment, I.C.J. Reports 1996 (II),
p. 810, para. 16);
34. 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, assuch:

(u) 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 lifecalculated
to bring about its physical destruction in whole or in part;

(d) Imposing measures intended to prevent births within the group;
(e) Forcibly transferring children of the group to another group";
35. 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-
tion on the Prevention and Punishnzent of the Crime of Genocide, Provi-
sional Measures, Order of 13 September 1993, I.C.J. Reports 1993,
p. 345, para. 42); whereas the threat or use of force against a State can-
not in 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 the839 LICÉITÉ DE L'EMPLOI DE LA FORCE (ORD.2 VI 99)

«comporte[nt] effectivement l'élémentd'intentionnalité, dirigé contre
un groupe comme tel, que requiert la disposition sus-citée» (Licéité
de la menace ou de l'emploi d'armes nucléaires, avis consultatif;C.I.J.
Recueil 1996 (1), p. 240, par. 26);
36. Considérant quela Cour n'est dèslors pas en mesure de conclure,
à ce stade de la procédure, que les actes que la Yougoslavie impute au
défendeur seraient susceptibles d'entrer dans les prévisionsde la conven-
tion sur le génocide;et que l'articleX de la convention, invoqué par la
Yougoslavie, ne constitue pas une base sur laquelle la compétence de la

Cour pourrait prima facie être fondée dans le cas d'espèce;

37. Considérant qu'il résulte dece qui précèdeque la Cour n'a pas
prima facie compétencepour connaître de la requête dela Yougoslavie;
et qu'elle ne saurait dèslors indiquer quelque mesure conservatoire que
ce soità l'effetde protégerles droits qui y sont invoqués;
38. Considérant toutefois que les conclusions auxquelles la Cour est
parvenue en la présenteprocédurene préjugenten rien la compétencede
la Cour pour connaître du fond de l'affaire sur la base de l'article de
la convention sur le génocide, niaucune question relativeà la recevabilité
de la requêteou au fond lui-même,et qu'elles laissent intact le droit du

Gouvernement yougoslave et du Gouvernement du Royaume-Uni de
faire valoir leurs moyens en la matière;

39. Considérantqu'il existe unedistinction fondamentale entre la ques-
tion de l'acceptation par un Etat de la juridiction de la Cour et la com-
patibilitéde certains actes avec ledroit international; la compétenceexige
le consentement; la compatibilité ne peut êtreappréciéeque quand la
Cour examine le fond, après avoir établisa compétence etentendu les
deux parties faire pleinement valoir leurs moyens en droit;
40. 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 relatif la licéitde tels
actes doit êtreréglépar des moyens pacifiques dont le choix est laissé
aux parties conformément à l'article 33 de la Charte;
41. Considérant que dans ce cadre les parties doivent veillerà ne pas
aggraver ni étendrele différend;
42. Considérantque, 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 spéciales en vertudu chapitreI1de la
Charte;elenient of intent, towards a group as such, required by the provision
quoted above" (Legulity of the Threut or Use of Nuclear Weapons, Advi-
sory Opinion, I.C.J. Reports 1996 11), p. 240, para. 26) ;

36. Whereas the Court is therefore not in a position to find, at this
stage of the proceedings, that the acts imputed by Yugoslavia to the
Respondent are capable of coming within the provisions of the Genocide
Convention; and whereas Article IX of the Convention, invoked by
Yugoslavia, cannot accordingly constitute a basis on which the jurisdic-
tion of the Court could prima facie be founded in this case;

37. Whereas it follows from what has been said above that the Court
lacks prima faciejurisdiction to entertain Yugoslavia's Application; and
whereas it cannot therefore indicate any provisional measure whatsoever
in order to protect the rights invoked therein;
38. 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 the United
Kingdom to submit arguments in respect of those questions;

39. 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;
40. 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;
41. Whereas in this context the parties should take care not to aggra-
vate or extend the dispute;
42. 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
responsibilities under Chapter VI1of the Charter; LICÉITE DE L'EMPLOI DE LA FORCE(ORD. 2 VI 99)
840

43. Par ces motifs,

1) Par douze 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 fonction de président en
l'uff'uire; M. Schwebel, président dela Cour; MM. Oda, Bedjaoui,
Guillaume, Ranjeva, Herczegh, Fleischhauer, Koroma, Mme Higgins,
MM. Parra-Aranguren, Kooijmans,juges ;
CONTRE M:M. Shi, Vereshchetin,juges; M. Kreka,juge ad hoc;

2) Par quatorze voix contre une,

Réserve la suite de la procédure.
POUR: M. Weeramantry, vice-président, faisantfonction de président en
l'affaire;. Schwebel,présidentde lu Cour; MM. Bedjaoui, Guillaume,

Ranjeva, Herczegh, Shi, Fleischhauer, Koroma, Vereshchetin,
MmeHiggins, MM. Parra-Aranguren, Kooijmans,juges; M. Krefa, juge
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, dont l'un restera déposéaux archives de la Cour et les
autres seront transmis respectivement au Gouvernement de la Répu-
blique fédéralede Yougoslavie et au Gouvernement du Royaume-Uni.

Le vice-président,
(Signé) Christopher G. WEERAMANTRY.

Le greffier,

(Signé) Eduardo VALENCIA-OSPINA.

M. WEERAMANTRY vi,ce-président, faisant fonctide président en
l'affaire, et MM. SHI, KOROMAet VERESHCHETIjN u, es, joignent des
déclarationsà l'ordonnance.

M. ODA, Mme HIGGINS,et MM. PARRA-ARANGURE etNKOOIJMANS,
juges, joignent à l'ordonnance les exposésde leur opinion individuelle.

18 43. For these reasons,

(1) By twelve votes to three,

Rejects the request for the indication of provisional measures submit-
ted by the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia on 29 April 1999;

IN FAVOUR: Vice-President Weeramantry, Acting President; President
Schwebel; Judges Oda, Bedjaoui, Guillaume, Ranjeva, Herczegh,
Fleischhauer, Koroma, Higgins, Parra-Aranguren, Kooijmans;

AG~INST Ju:dges Shi, Vereshchetin;Judge ad hoc Kreca;

(2) By fourteen votes to one,

Rrserves the subsequent procedure for further decision.
IN FAVOUR:Vice-Pr~sident Weeramantry, Acting President; President
Schwebel: Judges Bedjaoui, Guillaume, Ranjeva, Herczegh, Shi,
Fleischhauer, Koroma, Vereshchetin, Higgins, Parra-Aranguren,
Kooijmans; Judge ad hoc Kreca;

AGAINSJ Tu:dge 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
United Kingdom, respectively.

(Signed) Christopher G. WEERAMANTRY,
Vice-President.

(Signed) Eduardo VALENCIA-OSPINA,

Registrar.

Vice-President WEERAMANTRY A,cting President, and Judges SHI,
KOROMAand VERESHCHETIaN ppend declarations to the Order of the
Court.

Judges ODA, HIGGINS,PARRA-ARANGUREaN nd KOOIJMANaS ppend
separate opinions to the Order of the Court.841 LICÉITÉ DE L'EMPLOI DE LA FORCE (ORD.2 VI 99)

M. KRECAj,uge ad hoc, jointà l'ordonnance l'exposéde son opinion
dissidente.

(Paraphé) C.G.W.

(Puruph&) E.V.O. Judge ad hoc KRECA appends a dissenting opinion to the Order of the
Court.

(Initialled)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

Links