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[p.235]
The President of the International Court of Justice,
Having regard to Article 48 of the Statute of the Court, and to Articles 44
and 45, paragraph 1, of the Rules of Court,
Having regard to the Application filed in the Registry of the Court on 17
October 2000, whereby the Democratic Republic of the Congo instituted
proceedings against the Kingdom of Belgium in respect of a dispute
concerning an "international arrest warrant issued on 11 April 2000 by a
Belgian investigating judge . . . against the Minister for Foreign Affairs
in office of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Mr. Abdulaye Yerodia
Ndombasi",
Having regard to the Order of 8 December 2000 whereby the Court adjudicated
upon the request for the indication of a provisional measure submitted by
the Democratic Republic of the Congo on 17 October 2000, as adjusted at the
hearings to take account in particular of the fact that on 20 November 2000
Mr. Yerodia Ndombasi "had ceased to exercise the functions of Minister for
Foreign Affairs and been charged with those of Minister of Education";
Whereas in that Order the Court stated that "it is desirable that the issues
before the Court should be determined as soon as possible", and that "it is
therefore appropriate to ensure that a decision on the Congo's Application
be reached with all expedition";
Whereas, at a meeting between the President of the Court and the [p 236]
Agents of the Parties held on 8 December 2000, the Parties agreed that the
written pleadings in this case would comprise, in that order, a Memorial of
the Democratic Republic of the Congo and a Counter-Memorial of the Kingdom
of Belgium, and that those pleadings would address both issues of
jurisdiction and admissibility and the merits; and whereas at that same
meeting the Parties also agreed on the time-limits for the filing of the
said pleadings;
Taking account of the agreement of the Parties,
Fixes the following time-limits for the filing of the written pleadings:
15 March 2001 for the Memorial of the Democratic Republic of the Congo;
31 May 2001 for the Counter-Memorial of the Kingdom of Belgium; and
Reserves the subsequent procedure for further decision.
Done in French and in English, the French text being authoritative, at the
Peace Palace, The Hague, this thirteenth day of December two thousand, in
three copies, one of which will be placed in the archives of the Court and
the others transmitted to the Government of the Democratic Republic of the
Congo and the Government of the Kingdom of Belgium, respectively.
(Signed) Gilbert Guillaume,
President.
(Signed) Philippe Couvreur,
Registrar. |
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