ABU DHABI (ALETIHAD)
The United Arab Emirates has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the International Court of Justice (ICJ) and upholding international law, emphasising the importance of respecting the Court's jurisdiction, complying with its binding decisions and strengthening its role in the peaceful settlement of international disputes.
Delivering the UAE's statement before the United Nations, Abdulla Al Ajeeli, Second Secretary, said the country's support for the Court reflects its commitment to the rule of law, the UN Charter and the consistent application of international law in advancing peace, security and cooperation among nations.
The statement was delivered during the consideration of the ICJ's annual report, as the Court marks the 80th anniversary of its inaugural sitting.
The UAE also expressed its appreciation to ICJ President Judge Yuji Iwasawa, the Court's Members and its Registry for their contributions to international justice.
It congratulated the five members elected to the Court on November 3 and Santiago Villalpando on assuming office as Registrar, as well as condoling the passing of formers Judges.
"My country extends its sincere condolences on the passing of former Judges, with appreciation for their contributions to the Court and to international law."
The UAE highlighted three key areas for strengthening the Court's work, beginning with the importance of preserving its independence and impartiality and ensuring adherence to the UN Charter and the Court's Statute.
Al Ajeeli stressed that the consent of states remains the basis of the Court's jurisdiction in contentious cases, underlining the need to respect its jurisdictional rules and decisions, alongside the rights of parties and established procedural safeguards.
He also highlighted the importance of the Court's advisory function in clarifying legal questions referred to it by authorised UN organs and specialised agencies.
The UAE emphasised that advisory requests should be carefully prepared, with clear and specific legal questions and relevant documentation, enabling the Court to carry out its responsibilities efficiently.
The UAE stressed that states must comply with the Court's binding orders on provisional measures and judgments in cases to which they are parties, in accordance with the UN Charter and the Court's Statute.
Such compliance is essential to strengthening trust among nations and ensuring that judicial settlement translates into practical outcomes, the statement noted.
It also underscored the role of national legal authorities in interpreting the requirements of judgments, coordinating their implementation across relevant government bodies and monitoring compliance with the resulting obligations.
The UAE further took note of an amendment introduced by the Court this year to Article 78 of its Rules, concerning public access to reports on the implementation of provisional measures, following consultation with the parties and subject to applicable safeguards.
Addressing the Court's growing workload, the UAE called for continued efforts to improve case management while maintaining the quality of judicial proceedings and ensuring that all parties have sufficient opportunities to present their arguments.
The Court's annual report showed that 24 contentious cases remained on its General List at the end of the reporting period, highlighting the need for effective procedures and the responsible use of resources.
Al Ajeeli said states also have a role to play in improving efficiency by following procedural directions, submitting clear and focused legal arguments and relevant documents, and avoiding unnecessary repetition.
The UAE also welcomed the proposal to develop a secure, integrated case-management system that would allow documents to be electronically filed, distributed and retrieved.
The statement highlighted the potential of technology to facilitate judicial proceedings, while stressing the importance of verifying the authenticity of documents, ensuring their integrity and secure preservation, and protecting confidential information.
The UAE considers these safeguards essential to judicial modernisation, with digital tools expected to strengthen confidence in proceedings while improving efficiency and access to justice.
"My country regards these safeguards as an essential component of judicial modernisation. The development of digital tools should strengthen confidence in proceedings, as well as improve their efficiency. This is consistent with the United Arab Emirates’ interest in developing its legal and judicial system and making responsible use of digital transformation to facilitate access to justice," Ajeeli said.
Concluding its statement, the UAE renewed its firm commitment to supporting the ICJ and strengthening the international legal framework through respect for the Court's jurisdiction, compliance with its binding decisions and responsible participation in its proceedings.