3 Feb 2012

ICJ / ITALY GERMANY VERDICT

The International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruled on Friday that Italy’s courts were wrong to allow victims of Nazi war crimes to claim compensation against Germany because it has legal immunity from being sued. ICJ

Posted at: February 3, 2012 2:12 pm

Duration: 01:32

Available in: SD

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STORY: ICJ / GERMANY V. ITALY VERDICT 
TRT: 1.32
SOURCE: ICJ
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / NATS
 
DATELINE: 3 FEBRUARY 2012, ICJ, THE HAGUE 
 
SHOTLIST:
1. Wide shot, Great Hall of Justice with full ICJ Bench
2. Close shot, name-plate of Applicant State (Germany/Allemagne)
3. Med shot, German delegation 
4. Wide shot, German delegation
5. SOUNDBITE (English) Judge Hisashi Owada, President, International Court of Justice: 
"For these reasons, the Court, one, by twelve votes to three, finds that the Italian Republic has violated its obligation to respect the immunity which the Federal Republic of Germany enjoys under international law by allowing civil claims to be brought against it based on violations of international humanitarian law committed by the German Reich between 1943 and 1945."
6. Close shot, name-plate of Respondent State (Italy)
7. Med shot, Italian delegation
8. Close shot, name-plate of Intervening State (Greece)
9. Med shot, Greek delegation
10. SOUNDBITE (English) Judge Hisashi Owada, President, International Court of Justice: 
"Four, by fourteen votes to one, finds that the Italian Republic must, by enacting appropriate legislation, or by resorting to other methods of its choosing, ensure that the decisions of its courts and those of other judicial authorities infringing the immunity which the Federal Republic of Germany enjoys under international law cease to have effect;
11. Wide shot, Italian delegation 
 
STORYLINE: 
 
The International Court of Justice (ICJ), the principal judicial organ of the United Nations, ruled on Friday (3 Feb) that Italy's courts were wrong to allow victims of Nazi war crimes to claim compensation against Germany because it has legal immunity from being sued. 
 
Ruling in The Hague on a complaint from Germany, the ICJ confirmed Germany's legal immunity from being sued in foreign courts by victims of such crimes. 
 
Read out by ICJ President Judge Hisashi Owada, the verdict encompassed Italy's recognition of decisions by Greek courts against the German state. By the terms of the verdict, Italy must ensure that the decisions of its courts and those of other judicial authorities infringing on Germany's immunity "cease to have effect." 
 
The ICJ's rulings are final and binding on states.