Military and Paramilitary Activities in and against Nicaragua (Nicaragua v. United States of America) - Proceedings on the merits

. ,
: " ce: :-' > t
C. ; 4.\ . ,.', \ * -t 1
. --7 .-- hm
*. .,-'< ------ - --

INTERNATIONAL COURT OF JUSTICE

Peace Palace, 2517 KJ The Hague. Tel. 92 44 41. Cables: Intercourt. The Hague

Telex 32323
Communiqu6

un0[ficial
for tmmsdiats rsleass

Last conmuniqué in 1984 No. 8511
series was No. 84/41 23 January 1985

Military and Paramilitary Act ivities in and against
Nicaragua (Nicaragua v. United States of America)

Proceedings on the merits

The following imformation is communicated to the press by the Registry

of the Internat ional Court of Justice :

In its Judgment of 26 November 1984 the Court, after hearing the
arguments of the Parties, found that it has jurisdiction to entertain the
case and that the application filed by the Republic of Nicaragua on
9 April 1984 is admissible.

Following this decision, the President received both Agents on
27 November 1984. By a letter dated 18 January 1985 the Agent of the
United States made it known that in the view of the United States "the Court
is without jurisdict:ion to entertain the dispute and that the Nicaraguan

Application of 7 April 1984 is inadmissible" and that accordingly "the
United States intencls not to participate in any further proceedings in
connection with this case". On 22 January 1985 the President received
the Agent of Nicaragua, who in£ ormed him that his Government maintain ed
its application and availed itself of the rights provided for in Article 53
of the Statute whenever one of the parties does not appear before the

Court or fails to defend its case.

In these circurnstances, the President has, on 22 January 1985, made
an order fixing time-limits for the written proceedings on the merits.
The time-limits fixed are as follows:

- 30 April 1985 for the Memorial for the Republic of Nicaragua;

- 31 May 1985 for tlne Counter-Memorial of the United States of America.

The subsequent procedure is reserved for further decision.