'Siege countries will face justice for violating rules'

Qatar welcomed Tuesday the ruling by the International Court of Justice ("ICJ") that it has the right to challenge airspace restrictions imposed by Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Egypt before the UN's aviation body the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).
The Government Communications Office (GCO) said in a statement on its website that the ruling of the ICJ in the claims presented by the blockading countries was in favour of Qatar, adding that the ICAO has jurisdiction to hear Qatar's claim, after the blockading countries' closed their airspace to Qatari airplanes and prevented them from flying to and from airports in those countries, in a flagrant violation of international law. The office added that, "in two judgements released today, the ICAO Council will now resume its proceedings in resolving the claims submitted by the State of Qatar".
HE the Minister of Transport and Communications , Jassim bin Saif al- Sulaiti said: "We welcome today's decision by the ICJ that will see the blockading states finally face justice for violating international aviation rules. We are confident that the ICAO will ultimately find these actions unlawful.
"This is the latest in a series of rulings that expose the blockading countries' continued disregard for international law and due process. Step by step their arguments are being dismantled, and Qatar's position vindicated."
Since June 2017, Qatar continues to challenge illegal measures taken by the blockading countries and their violations of international law. The International Court of Justice's verdict is the latest in a series of international judgements vindicating this position and in favour of Qatar. It follows a ruling by the World Trade Organization in June that Saudi Arabia breached global trade rules by failing to take action against, and instead actively promoting, broadcast pirate beoutQ.
Qatar's decision to bring claims before the ICAO follows repeated attempts to negotiate an amicable settlement, which have been consistently rejected by the blockading countries.