www.thepeninsula.qa Wednesday 15 July 2020 Volume 25 | Number 8319 24 Dhul-Qa'da - 1441 2 Riyals BUSINESS | 14 PENMAG | 15 SPORT | 20 Profits hit as US Classifieds AFC shortlists banks set aside and Services Qatar coach billions for section Sanchez for top bad loans included award Do it online now. Get a new SIM from the Online safety of your home! Qatar wins legal battle over air blockade THE PENINSULA & AGENCIES Qatar emerged victorious at top UN court as the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruled In the dispute under the Chicago yesterday that the country has the right to challenge airspace Convention, the ICJ ruled that: restrictions imposed by Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Egypt before the UN’s aviation body With respect to the blockading states’ first ground of appeal, which — the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). alleged that the ICAO Council “failed to uphold fundamental principles Since June 2017, the block- of due process,” the ICJ unanimously found that “the procedures ading countries (Saudi Arabia, followed by the Council did not prejudice in any fundamental way the the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Egypt) have pro- requirements of a just procedure.” hibited Qatar-registered aircraft from flying to or from their air- The ICJ also rejected the blockading states’ second ground of appeal, ports and overflying their We welcome the decision by the ICJ that which claimed that the “real issue” in dispute was not their violations national airspaces, in flagrant will see the blockading countries finally of the Chicago Convention and IASTA, but their blatantly false violation of international law. face justice for violating international avi- In two judgements released accusations that Qatar supports and finances terrorism. The ICJ once yesterday, the ICJ rejected all ation rules. We are confident that the again refused to give any credence to those falsehoods and three grounds of appeal raised ICAO will ultimately find these actions unanimously concluded that “the Council did not err when it rejected by the blockading states, finding unlawful. This is the latest in a series of that the ICAO has jurisdiction the first preliminary objection by the Appellants relating to its rulings that expose the blockading coun- to hear Qatar’s claims. The ICAO jurisdiction,” and that the claims brought before the Council were Council will now resume its tries’ continued disregard for interna- admissible. proceedings. tional law and due process. Step by step The president of the ICJ, Abdulqawi Ahmed Yusuf said their arguments are being dismantled, The blockading states’ third ground of appeal, which incredibly the Hague-based court unani- and Qatar’s position vindicated.” claimed that Qatar never made a “genuine attempt to initiate mously “rejects the appeal” by negotiations” prior to filing its claims under the Chicago Convention the rival states against a H E Jassim Saif Ahmed Al Sulaiti and IASTA, was equally unanimously rejected. decision by the world civil avi- Minister of Transport and Communications ation body in favour of Qatar over sovereign airspace, AFP reported. several decisions of ICAO ICJ that will see the blockading Step by step their arguments are of international law. This rules by failing to take action The court also “holds that should be dismissed, reported states finally face justice for vio- being dismantled, and Qatar’s verdict is the latest in a series against, and instead actively the International Civil Aviation Reuters. lating international aviation position vindicated.” of international judgements promoting, broadcast pirate Organisation (ICAO) has juris- Qatar has welcomed the rules. We are confident that the The Government Commu- vindicating this position and beoutQ. diction” in the case, by 15 judges ruling that it can challenge air- ICAO will ultimately find these nications Office (GCO) in a finding in favour of the State of Qatar’s decision to bring to one, Yusuf said, according to space restrictions at the ICAO. actions unlawful. This is the statement said that since the Qatar. claims before the ICAO follows AFP. Minister of Transport and Com- latest in a series of rulings that start of the illegal blockade in It follows a ruling by the repeated attempts to negotiate The ICJ’s 16-judge panel munications, H E Jassim Saif expose the bockading countries’ June 2017, Qatar has maintained World Trade Organization in an amicable settlement, which ruled that appeals filed by Ahmed Al Sulaiti said: “We continued disregard for inter- that the blockading states have June that the Kingdom of Saudi have been consistently rejected Qatar’s neighbours against welcome today’s decision by the national law and due process. acted illegally and in violation Arabia breached global trade by the blockading states. `P2 ICJ ruling shows legal A historic victory for Qatar Third judicial victory since strength of Qatar’s position against blockading countries the beginning of siege THE PENINSULA — DOHA THE PENINSULA — DOHA THE PENINSULA — DOHA Hassan Rashid Al Derham (pictured), President The Chairman of Qatar Civil Aviation Dr Mohamed bin Abdulaziz Al Khulaifi of Qatar University, has said that the International Authority (QCAA), Abdullah bin Nasser Turki (pictured), the agent of Qatar in the ICJ, Court of Justice (ICJ) ruling in favour of Qatar dem- Al Subaie (pictured), has said that the Inter- has said that the International Court of onstrated the steadfast and civilized position of national Court of Justice (ICJ) ruling is a Justice (ICJ) ruling is in favour of Qatar and Qatar in dealing with controversial issues. historic victory for Qatar against the block- against the blockading countries. “The ICJ ruling clearly and without any doubt ading countries. “We congratulate the government and Al Subaie also said in a tweet, commenting people of the State on this third judicial victory Qatar to continue carrying flag of truth and justice THE PENINSULA — DOHA Commenting on ICJ verdict in favour of Qatar, Minister of State H E Dr Hamad bin Abdulaziz Al Kuwari (pictured), has said that Qatar is steadfast and will continue carrying the flag of truth and shows that Qatar’s position was legal in its demand on the ICJ’s ruling which rejected the appeal since the beginning of the siege on June 5, 2017,” justice until the siege on it and its people ends. for the implementation of the law and giving the by Bahrain, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and the United he said while speaking to Al Jazeera channel “From the beginning, we were extremely con- right to its people,” he said. Arab Emirates against a decision by the ICAO, yesterday. fident of justice of our cause. An unjustifiable and Speaking to The Peninsula yesterday, Al that: “We have once again proved in a civilised Al Khulaifi said that the ICJ has rejected the unjustified siege was imposed on the State of Derham said: “It is not the first time that Qatar has way (blockading) countries’ breach of inter- appeals from Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Qatar, which undermines the social ties between resorted to the international courts. It approached national agreements.” Emirates, Bahrain, and Egypt regarding the the people of the region and violates the right of the International Court of Justice regarding the “Qatar has achieved a historic victory over jurisdiction of the International Civil Aviation neighborhood,” Minister of State and President dispute with Bahrain on some islands, which is an the siege countries in the International Court Organization (ICAO) in considering the Qatari of Qatar National Library H E Dr Hamad bin evidence of country’s legal and civilized approach of Justice, and with this ruling in our favor, we complaint. “As you know, the State of Qatar has Abdulaziz Al Kuwari told The Peninsula. in handling cases when it becomes difficult to solve will complete the procedures for Qatari com- submitted its complaint to ICAO concerned with He said that the blockade violated interna- disputes directly.” Qatar once again, Al Derham plaints in ICAO, and we will once again dem- deciding civil aviation issues since the beginning tional and humanitarian laws, which was clearly said, proved its peaceful approach towards onstrate the breach of these countries to inter- of the blockade, and the Council approved by beyond doubt, and for this reason they refused resolving issues between it and other countries national agreements in a civilized manner,” a majority votes to accept jurisdiction in mid- dialogue to resolve the crisis. `P2 through international law. `P2 he tweeted. `P2 2018,” he said. `P2 beIN MEDIA GROUP criticises Saudi for competition’s statement MADLSA to launch new online QNA — DOHA pronouncement by the Saudi of competition law.” promote competition is plainly platform for Qatarisation of jobs General Authority for Competition “The decision is nonsensical on absurd.” “We would also question - beIN MEDIA GROUP criticised the purporting to “permanently ter- every single level, banning beIN for as we have for 3 years how Saudi QNA — DOHA recent statement issued by the minate” beIN’s licence to broadcast packaging its rights in the standard citizens can watch Premier League General Authority for Competition in Saudi Arabia. This decision was way that sports and entertainment matches legally in Saudi Arabia with The Assistant Undersecretary of Administrative in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, arrived at through sham legal pro- broadcasters all around the world this “permanent” ban on the Premier Development Affairs at the Ministry of Administrative which purports to permanently ceedings that repeatedly violated do, and indeed as other broadcasters League’s licenced broadcaster. Or Development, Labor and Social Affairs (MADLSA), terminate the licence to broadcast beIN’s due process rights at every active in the Saudi market also do. indeed how Saudi citizens can legally Abdulah Musalam Al Dosari, revealed that a new beIN in Saudi Arabia.