Zerkal: None of Russia’s objections undermines PCA’s jurisdiction
“Yesterday, Russia tried hard to change the subject of the case in order to squeeze it into the scope of Russia’s objections. Today, you will hear about the real dispute that is before you. As a result, it will become clear why none of Russia’s objections undermines your jurisdiction,” Ukrainian Deputy Foreign Minister, Agent of Ukraine Olena Zerkal said, while delivering the opening statement, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.
According to Zerkal, Russia steals Ukrainian resources in the Black Sea and excludes Ukraine from accession to oil and gas beneath Ukrainian waters.
“Since spring 2014, Russia has already stolen more than 9 billion cubic meters of natural gas. It has purported to cancel licenses duly issued by the Ukrainian Government for energy production and it has issued its own licenses to Russian companies. Russia has even taken from us valuable and modern mobile drilling rigs, which it moves around our entitlements in the Black Sea to drill our natural gas,” the deputy foreign minister of Ukraine stressed.
As reported, on June 10-14, the Permanent Court of Arbitration holds hearings on the preliminary objections of the Russian Federation in the arbitration Concerning Coastal State Rights in the Black Sea, Sea of Azov, and Kerch Strait, instituted by Ukraine against Russia.
The opening statement of the Russian Federation was delivered on Monday, 10 June 2019. Today, Ukraine delivers its opening statement. The second round will be held on June 13-14. On Thursday, 13 June 2019, the Russian Federation will present its second round of oral arguments. On Friday, 14 June 2019, Ukraine will present its second round of oral arguments.
The arbitral proceedings were instituted on 16 September 2016 when Ukraine served on the Russian Federation a Notification and Statement of Claim1 under Annex VII to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (“UNCLOS”). The Notification and Statement of Claim refers to a “dispute concerning coastal state rights in the Black Sea, Sea of Azov, and Kerch Strait.”
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