The case of the Israel Government against Bulgaria, which involves Israel’s claim for $7,462, 803 in damages for Bulgaria’s shooting down in 1955 of an EI AI airliner, with a loss of 58 lives, opened here today before the International Court of Justice.
Representing Bulgaria, Pierre Cot, a French Communist lawyer, told the court that it is not within its competence to take up Israel’s complaint. He argued that when the incident occurred, Bulgaria was not yet a member of the United Nations. Thus, he claimed, the case is not under the jurisdiction of the world court.
Israel’s representative, Shabtai Rosene, will present the case tomorrow or Wednesday. A friendly atmosphere prevailed today between the Israeli and Bulgarian delegations, after the chief of the Bulgarian delegation, Nissim Mevorach, a Jew, introduced himself formally to the Israelis, prior to the opening of the court’s session.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
