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Nuclear Tests (New Zealand v. France)

Cases Previous Next

See other cases involving
New Zealand
France
See other cases involving
Provisional measures
Questions of jurisdiction and/or admissibility
Intervention

Overview of the case

On 9 May 1973, Australia and New Zealand each instituted proceedings against France concerning tests of nuclear weapons which France proposed to carry out in the atmosphere in the South Pacific region. France stated that it considered the Court manifestly to lack jurisdiction and refrained from appearing at the public hearings or filing any pleadings. By two Orders of 22 June 1973, the Court, at the request of Australia and New Zealand, indicated provisional measures to the effect, inter alia, that pending judgment France should avoid nuclear tests causing radioactive fall-out on Australian or New Zealand territory. By two Judgments delivered on 20 December 1974, the Court found that the Applications of Australia and New Zealand no longer had any object and that it was therefore not called upon to give any decision thereon. In so doing the Court based itself on the conclusion that the objective of Australia and New Zealand had been achieved inasmuch as France, in various public statements, had announced its intention of carrying out no further atmospheric nuclear tests on the completion of the 1974 series.

This overview is provided for information only and in no way involves the responsibility of the Court.

Institution of proceedings

Written proceedings

Memorial on Jurisdiction and Admissibility submitted by the Government of New Zealand

29 October 1973
Procedure(s): Questions of jurisdiction and/or admissibility
Available in:
English

Oral proceedings

Verbatim record 1973

Oral Arguments on the Request for the Indication of Interim Measures of Protection - Minutes of the Public Sittings held at the Pease Palace, The Hague, on 24 and 25 May 1973, President Lachs presiding, and on 22 June 1973, Vice-President Ammoun presiding
Procedure(s): Provisional measures
Available in:
Original Language

Verbatim record 1974

Oral Arguments on Jurisdiction and Admissibility - Minutes of the Public Sittings held at the Peace Palace, The Hague, on 10 and 11 July and 20 December 1974, President Lachs presiding
Procedure(s): Questions of jurisdiction and/or admissibility
Available in:
Original Language

Other documents

Orders

Order of 22 June 1973

Request for the indication of measures of protection and fixing of time-limits: Memorial and Counter-Memorial
Procedure(s): Provisional measures
Available in:
English French Bilingual

Order of 6 September 1973

Extension of time-limits: Memorial and Counter-Memorial
Available in:
English French Bilingual

Judgments

Summaries of Judgments and Orders

Summary 1973/3

Summary of the Order of 22 June 1973
Available in:
English French

Summary 1974/4

Summary of the Judgment of 20 December 1974
Available in:
English French

Press releases

Press release 1973/10
(French version only)

14 May 1973
Essais nucléaires (Nouvelle-Zélande c. France) - La Nouvelle-Zélande demande à la Cour d'indiquer des mesures conservatoires (French version only)
Available in:
French

Press release 1973/12
(French version only)

17 May 1973
Essais nucléaires - Les audiences s'ouvriront le lundi 21 mai à 15 heures (French version only)
Available in:
French

Press release 1973/11
(French version only)

17 May 1973
Essais nucléaires - La France n'accepte pas la juridiction de la Cour (French version only)
Available in:
French

Press release 1973/13
(French version only)

18 May 1973
Essais nucléaires - Composition des délégations (French version only)
Available in:
French

Press release 1973/15
(French version only)

25 May 1973
Essais nucléaires - Audiences du 21 au 25 mai 1973 (French version only)
Available in:
French

Press release 1973/21
(French version only)

20 June 1973
Essais nucléaires - Le rendu des décisions de la Cour sur les demandes en indication de mesures conservatoires aura lieu le vendredi 22 juin 1973 (French version only)
Available in:
French

Press release 1973/23
(French version only)

22 June 1973
Essais nucléaires (Nouvelle Zélande c. France) - La Cour internationale de Justice indique des mesures conservatoires (French version only)
Available in:
French

Press release 1973/28
(French version only)

12 July 1973
Essais nucléaires - Requêtes à fin d'intervention (French version only)
Available in:
French

Press release 1973/30
(French version only)

8 August 1973
Essais nucléaires - Déclarations publiées dans la presse (French version only)
Available in:
French

Press release 1973/32
(French version only)

7 September 1973
Suite de la procédure dans l'affaire des Essais nucléaires (Nouvelle Zélande c. France) (French version only)
Available in:
French

Press release 1974/4
(French version only)

24 June 1974
Essais nucléaires - Début des audiences le jeudi 4 juillet 1974 (French version only)
Available in:
French

Press release 1974/6
(French version only)

9 July 1974
Essais nucléaires - Composition des délégations (French version only)
Available in:
French

Press release 1974/7
(French version only)

11 July 1974
Essais nucléaires - Audiences des 10 et 11 juillet 1974 (French version only)
Available in:
French

Press release 1974/11
(French version only)

16 December 1974
La Cour rendra ses arrêts dans les deux affaires des Essais nucléaires le vendredi 20 décembre 1974 à 15 heures (French version only)
Available in:
French

Press release 1974/13
(French version only)

20 December 1974
Essais nucléaires (Australie c. France) - Arrêt de la Cour (French version only)
Available in:
French

Correspondence

Correspondence

9 May 1973
Correspondence
Available in:
English French
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