*World aviation regulation body to consider Qatar's complaints
The Council of International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) has rejected the appeals submitted by the blockading countries regarding the incompetence of ICAO to consider Qatar’s complaints.
This came during an ICAO session held yesterday to hear the two complaints Qatar had submitted about the negative impact caused by the blockading countries on aviation and air safety and security.
HE the Minister of Transport and Communications Jassim Saif Ahmed al-Sulaiti hailed the vote by the majority of ICAO member states in favour of looking into Qatar’s complaints and against the blockading countries’ appeals. He also praised ICAO’s efforts in preserving air safety and security and air traffic.
The minister said the blockading countries’ encroachments on aviation rules contradict all norms and agreements binding on all parties, in addition to the serious consequences they cause to air safety and security.
He expressed hope for the ICAO Council’s urgent move to take appropriate decisions toward the right of air passage, as per ICAO’s current dispute resolution mechanism under Article 84 of the Convention on International Civil Aviation HE the Minister stressed his full confidence in the council.
Al-Sulaiti stressed Qatar’s respect for international laws , a position that is being praised by the international community and which came in the form of Qatar refraining from taking any counteractions.
The Chicago Convention’s Article 84 on Settlement of Disputes reads: “If any disagreement between two or more contracting states relating to the interpretation or application of this convention or its annexes cannot be settled by negotiation, it shall, on the application of any state concerned in the disagreement, be decided by the council.”
Qatar earlier submitted two complaints to ICAO’s Council under Article 84 of the Chicago Convention, relating to the interpretation and application of the convention and its annexes, in addition to the interpretation and application of the International Air Services Transit Agreement (IASTA).
The blockading countries later submitted a preliminary objection to the ICAO Council, claiming the council’s lack of jurisdiction to hear Qatar’s complaints, aiming to evade their obligations toward the Chicago Convention and IASTA.
Qatar responded to the preliminary objection saying that its complaints fell within ICAO Council’s jurisdiction. The Council had set June 26, 2018 to hear the complaints.
On July 31, 2017, the ICAO Council had approved the opening up of emergency routes for Qatari airplanes.
