PRESS RELEASE : Joint Statement from the International Coordination and Response Group for the victims of Flight PS752 [January 2024]
The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 8 January 2024.
The UK, Canada, Sweden and Ukraine have issued a joint statement on the initiation of dispute settlement proceedings before the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) against Iran.
The International Coordination and Response Group for the victims of Flight PS752 today issued the following joint statement:
We, ministers representing Canada, Sweden, Ukraine and the United Kingdom, have taken another step on the road to transparency, justice and accountability for Iran’s unlawful downing of Ukraine International Airlines Flight 752 which killed 176 people including nationals and residents of our countries.
Today we have jointly initiated dispute settlement proceedings before the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) against the Islamic Republic of Iran for using weapons against a civil aircraft in flight in breach of its international legal obligations under Article 3bis of the Convention on International Civil Aviation (known as the Chicago Convention).
For four years now, Iran has refused to take full legal responsibility for the downing of Flight PS752 despite our numerous attempts to engage in negotiations on this matter. As a result, we have referred the dispute to the ICAO Council for a decision pursuant to Article 84 of the Chicago Convention.
Initiating these proceedings today reflects our commitment to the families who deserve justice. It also reflects our trust in the ICAO council, and the international community writ large, as guardian of the safety and security of civil aviation, including by settling disputes when they arise. It is necessary that those who violate the rules are held accountable. Our common hope is that this action alongside our continued pursuit of justice at the International Court of Justice can lead to real change and prevent similar tragic losses in the future. Justice shall prevail.
