Victoria Falls, Delices Buy Dominica products
Home
Welcome Message
Prior Issues
Feedback
Current Issue
Contact Us
Advertise
About Dominica

Spiderline

In the Spotlight
Karina Leblanc: World Class Goal Keeper
John Moorhouse: Extreme Sports Cyclist

Dominica Academy of Arts and Sciences
National Development Fund
Rosie Douglas Foundation

Become A Sponsor
The Dominican provides a unique opportunity to advertise to the thousands of people who access this free site daily, while becoming a sponsor of the site. For additional information, please

Inquire Here


Volume No. 1 Issue No. 82 - Monday June 12, 2006
"Dominica Government to Withdraw Case Against Switzerland at the ICJ
TheDominican.net Newsdesk


The Dominica government has been advised to withdraw its case against the government of Switzerland, which was filed at the International Court of Justice (ICJ).

Professor Detter Frankopan who served as the legal agent in presenting the case to the ICJ has strongly advised the Government to notify the Court that the case should be withdrawn in view of certain circumstances that had come to light. The Cabinet of Prime Minister Roosevelt Skeritt based on her advice has agreed to withdraw the case.

Professor Frankopan has further advised the government to offer its apologies for the delay caused by the verification and examination of these facts, which made it impossible to proceed with the case. According to Frankopan "if I had been aware of these facts I would not have advised the Government to file the case."

The �facts� refer to the information revealed by the government of Switzerland concerning Roman Lakschin, Dominica�s Ambassador to the United Nations. Lakschin was recently sued in the Swiss courts and claimed diplomatic immunity. His appointment was however never recognized by the Swiss authorities who claimed that his dealings as a businessman prevented him from carrying out this function.

Professor Frankopan is a distinguished Oxford professor who has published some fifteen books on international law and who is the adviser to several governments. She revealed to theDominican.net that she was honored to be asked by the Government of Dominica for legal advice about certain violations of sovereign rights with respect to the law of diplomatic envoys. She prepared the case for two years pro bono, as she was motivated by interest in the legal questions that would be clarified by the Court.

It was therefore in her considered opinion, as an experienced International lawyer, that the problems should be submitted to the International Court of Justice. After extensive discussions with the Prime Minister, the Attorney General and with the Foreign Minister, she was advised to file a Case against Switzerland in the International Court and this was done on April 26, 2006.

The case presented considerable legal interest particularly from the international legal community and from Governments as it concerned the delimitation of competence between a sending State, an international organization and a host State of that organization. Two former ad hoc judges of the International Court volunteered to serve as ad hoc judges in the case out of interest in the legal questions involved.

Professor Frankopan told TheDominican.net that she was however unaware of the complex background of some personalities involved in the case, and that there was considerable outside pressure on herself and on the Government, to follow instructions from outside sources.

According to Professor Frankopan, "I resisted and resented such interference as a professional lawyer I could not allow my reputation to suffer by being involved with such interfering persons. Further, as Agent of the Government, I can clearly only follow instructions by the Government which had appointed me as Agent and Counsel."

Comments about this article? Email:
editor@
thedominican.net
Telephone:
1-703-861-9411
Fax:
1-202-589-7937

Volume No. 1 Issue No. 81
Dominica V Switzerland
Lakschin- Dominica's Ambassador
The case against switzerland
Disneyfication of Caribbean
Life of Rb Douglas




Subscribe Now
Subscribe to our newsletter, and receive updates by e-mail.

Subscribe


  | Home | Welcome Message | Prior Issues | Feedback | Current Issue |
| Contact Us | Advertise | About Dominica | Privacy Policy |

� Copyright 2002 TheDominican.Net.
Designed by Caribbean Supplies -- All Rights reserved