| |
[p.607]
The International Court of Justice,
Composed as above,
After deliberation,
Having regard to Article 48 of the Statute of the Court, and to Articles 31
and 79 of the Rules of Court,
Having regard to the Order of 8 September 2000, whereby the President of the
Court extended until 23 March 2001 and 4 October 2002 respectively the
time-limits for the filing of the Memorial of the Republic of Guinea and the
Counter-Memorial of the Democratic Republic of the Congo,
Having regard to the Memorial of the Republic of Guinea, filed within the
time-limit as thus extended;
Whereas on 3 October 2002, within the time-limit fixed for the
Counter-Memorial, the Democratic Republic of the Congo filed preli-[p
608]minary objections to the admissibility of the Application of the
Republic of Guinea;
Whereas accordingly, by virtue of Article 79, paragraph 3, of the Rules of
Court adopted on 14 April 1978, the proceedings on the merits are suspended
and a time-limit has to be fixed for the presentation by the other Party of
a written statement of its observations and submissions on the preliminary
objections;
Whereas, at a meeting held by the President with the representatives of the
Parties on 5 November 2002, the Republic of Guinea indicated that it would
need eight months for the preparation of that written statement, having
regard in particular to the time required to gather all the relevant facts;
and whereas the Democratic Republic of the Congo did not object to such a
time-limit being fixed;
Taking account of the particular circumstances of the case and of the
agreement of the Parties,
Fixes 7 July 2003 as the time-limit within which the Republic of Guinea may
present a written statement of its observations and submissions on the
preliminary objections raised by the Democratic Republic of the Congo; 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 seventh day of November, two thousand and two,
in three copies, one of which will be placed in the archives of the Court
and the others transmitted to the Government of the Republic of Guinea and
the Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, respectively.
(Signed) Gilbert Guillaume,
President.
(Signed) Philippe Couvreur,
Registrar.
|
|
