EUROPEAN COMMISSION OF HUMAN RIGHTS
SECOND CHAMBER
Application No. 16131/90
Gottfried INSAM
against
AUSTRIA
REPORT OF THE COMMISSION
(adopted on 19 May 1992)
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
INTRODUCTION. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
PART I: STATEMENT OF THE FACTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
PART II: SOLUTION REACHED . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
INTRODUCTION
1. This Report relates to the application introduced under
Article 25 of the European Convention for the Protection of Human
Rights and Fundamental Freedoms by Gottfried INSAM against Austria on
19 January 1990. It was registered on 2 February 1990 under file
No. 16131/90.
The applicant was represented by Mr. F. Insam, a lawyer
practising in Graz.
The Government of Austria were represented by their Agent,
Ambassador H. Türk, Head of the International Law Department at the
Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
2. On 13 January 1992 the Commission (Second Chamber) declared the
application admissible. It then proceeded to carry out its task
under Article 28 para. 1 of the Convention which provides as follows:
"In the event of the Commission accepting a petition referred to
it:
a. it shall, with a view to ascertaining the facts, undertake
together with the representatives of the parties an
examination of the petition and, if need be, an
investigation, for the effective conduct of which the
States concerned shall furnish all necessary facilities,
after an exchange of views with the Commission;
b. it shall at the same time place itself at the disposal of
the parties concerned with a view to securing a friendly
settlement of the matter on the basis of respect for Human
Rights as defined in this Convention."
3. The Commission found that the parties had reached a friendly
settlement of the case and on 19 May 1992 it adopted this Report,
which, in accordance with Article 28 para. 2 of the Convention, is
confined to a brief statement of the facts and of the solution reached.
The following members were present when the Report was adopted:
MM. S. TRECHSEL, President of the Second Chamber
A. WEITZEL
J.-C. SOYER
H.G. SCHERMERS
H. DANELIUS
Mrs. G.H. THUNE
MM. F. MARTINEZ
L. LOUCAIDES
J.-C. GEUS
PART I
STATEMENT OF THE FACTS
4. The applicant, born in 1931, is an Austrian national and resident
in Graz.
5. The applicant complained under Article 6 para. 1 of the
Convention about the length of criminal proceedings against him
concerning charges of defamation and attack on a person's
creditworthiness. The proceedings were instituted before the Vienna
District Court on 1 August 1984. The Vienna Regional Court finally
acquitted the applicant on 31 October 1989.
PART II
SOLUTION REACHED
6. Following the decision on the admissibility of the application,
the Commission placed itself at the disposal of the parties with a view
to securing a friendly settlement in accordance with
Article 28 para. 1 (b) of the Convention and invited the parties to
submit any proposals they wished to make.
7. In accordance with the usual practice, the Chamber Secretary,
acting on the Commission's instructions, contacted the parties to
explore the possibilities of reaching a friendly settlement.
8. By letters of 4 and 8 May 1992 the parties submitted the
following agreement reached between them:
"Statements of the parties with a view to a friendly settlement With reference to Article 28 para. 1 (b) of the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, the parties in the proceedings concerning Application No. 16131/90, lodged by Mr. Gottfried Insam, declare with a view to a friendly settlement, reached with assistance of the European Commission of Human Rights, as follows: 1. The Government of the Republic of Austria will pay to the applicant a sum amounting to altogether AS 80,000 as compensation in respect of any possible claims relating to the present application. This sum includes AS 30,000 in respect of counsel's fees and expenses incurred in the proceedings before the Commission. This amount will be paid to the applicant's representative Mr. F. Insam in Graz. 2. The applicant declares his application settled. 3. The applicant waives any further claims against the Republic of Austria relating to the present application." "Erklärungen der Parteien zur gütlichen Regelung In der Individualbeschwerde Nr. 16131/90 des Herrn Gottfried Insam verständigen sich die Parteien unter Bezugnahme auf Artikel 28 Abs. 1 b der Europäischen Konvention zum Schutze der Menschenrechte und Grundfreiheiten und unter Mitwirkung der Europäischen Kommission für Menschenrechte auf die nachstehende gütliche Regelung: 1. Die österreichische Regierung zahlt dem Beschwerdeführer als Ausgleich für sämtliche etwaige Ansprüche im Zusammenhang mit der vorliegenden Individualbeschwerde einen Gesamtbetrag von AS 80,000. Dieser Betrag umfaßt AS 30,000 hinsichtlich der Gebühren und Auslagen, die im Rahmen des Verfahren vor der Kommission entstanden sind. Dieser Betrag wird an den Verfahrensbevollmächtigten des Beschwerdeführers Herrn F. Insam in Graz überwiesen. 2. Der Beschwerdeführer erklärt seine oben genannte Beschwerde als erledigt. 3. Der Beschwerdeführer verzichtet auf die Geltendmachung allfälliger weiterer Forderungen gegen die Republik Österreich im Zusammenhang mit dem der Beschwerde zugrundeliegenden Sachverhalt." 9. At its session on 19 May 1992, the Commission noted that the parties had reached an agreement regarding the terms of a settlement. It further considered, having regard to Article 28 para. 1 (b) of the Convention, that the friendly settlement of the case had been secured on the basis of respect for Human Rights as defined in the Convention. 10. For these reasons, the Commission adopted this Report. Secretary to the Second Chamber President of the Second Chamber (K. ROGGE) (S. TRECHSEL)
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