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The International Court of Justice,
Composed as above,
After deliberation,
Having regard to Article 48 of the Statute of the Court and to Article 44,
paragraph 3, of the Rules of Court,
Having regard to the Order of 8 December 2000, whereby the Court ruled on
the request for the indication of provisional measures presented by the
Democratic Republic of the Congo, and in which it stated that "it [was]
desirable that the issues before the Court should be determined as soon as
possible" and that "it [was] therefore appropriate to ensure that a decision
on the Congo's Application be reached with all expedition",
Having regard to the Order of 13 December 2000, whereby the President of the
Court, taking account of the agreement of the Parties, fixed 15 March 2001
and 31 May 2001 respectively as the time-limits for the filing of the
Memorial of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Counter-Memorial of
the Kingdom of Belgium;
Whereas, by a letter dated 5 March 2001 and received in the Registry on 6
March 2001, the Agent of the Democratic Republic of the Congo asked the
Court to postpone until the second fortnight of April 2001 the time-limit
for the filing of the Memorial, and indicated the reasons for that request;
and whereas, on receipt of that letter, the Registrar, referring to Article
44, paragraph 3, of the Rules of Court, transmitted a copy thereof to the
Agent of Belgium;
Whereas, by a letter dated 12 March 2001 and received in the Registry on the
same day by facsimile, the Deputy-Agent of Belgium indicated that her
Government did not object to the extension of the time-limit sought by the
Democratic Republic of the Congo and requested that the time-limit fixed for
the filing of the Counter-Memorial be extended to 31 July 2001;
Taking account of the reasons given by the Democratic Republic of the Congo
and of the agreement of the Parties,
Extends to 17 April 2001 the time-limit for the filing of the Memorial of
the Democratic Republic of the Congo;
Extends to 31 July 2001 the time-limit for the filing of 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 fourteenth day of March, two thousand and one,
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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