ICJ/563

ERITREA APPLIES TO INTERNATIONAL COURT OF JUSTICE IN DIPLOMATIC DISPUTE WITH ETHIOPIA

16 February 1999


Press Release
ICJ/563


ERITREA APPLIES TO INTERNATIONAL COURT OF JUSTICE IN DIPLOMATIC DISPUTE WITH ETHIOPIA

19990216 THE HAGUE, 16 February (ICJ) -- Eritrea has initiated proceedings in the International Court of Justice in a dispute with Ethiopia concerning the alleged violation of the premises and of the staff of Eritrea's diplomatic mission in Addis Ababa.

In its application, Eritrea contends that, during the week of 8 February, the Government of Ethiopia repeatedly violated the diplomatic immunities of Eritrea's accredited representative to Ethiopia and to the Organization of African Unity, Ghirma Asmeron, who was finally declared persona non grata and had to leave Ethiopia on 10 February. It maintains that the premises of its Embassy in Addis Ababa have been forcibly broken into on 11 February and remain occupied by Ethiopia since then. Eritrea also contends that Embassy staff members, including Eritrea's charge d'affaires in Addis Ababa, Saleh Omar, are being detained incommunicado or held hostage by Ethiopia.

In filing its application, Eritrea stated that "it does not appear that Ethiopia has at the present time given its consent for the Court to be seized of jurisdiction in this case". It invited Ethiopia to accept that jurisdiction. Eritrea's application, which was accompanied by a request for the indication of provisional measures, has been transmitted to the Government of Ethiopia. However, unless and until Ethiopia has given its consent to the Court's jurisdiction, the Court cannot take any action in the proceedings.

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For information media. Not an official record.