Legality of the Use by a State of Nuclear Weapons in Armed Conflict (Request for Advisory Opinion by the World Health Organization) - Hearings to open on 30 October 1995 - Submission of written commen

COURT OF JUSTICE
PeacePalace,2517KJ TheHague.Te1.(070-30223 23).Cables:Intercou, heHague.

Telefax(070-36499 28). Telex32323.

Communiqué

unofficial
for -diate releane

No. 95/17
27 June 1995

geaalitv of the Use bv a State of Nuclear WeaDona

st for Advisorv O~Ulion bv the
World Health Orodzationl

Hearbus to oDen on 30October 1995

The following information is communicated to the Press by the
Registry of the International Court of Justice:

The Court will hold public sittings opening at 10 a.m. on&x&y
30 October 1995 for the purpose of hearing oral statements or comments in
respect of the question which the World Health Organization submitted to
it for advisory opinion namely:

"In view of the health and environmental effects, would the
use of nuclear weapons by a State in war or otherarmed conflict
be a breach of its obligations under international law including
the WHO Constitution?"

These oral proceedings will also cover the request for advisory

opinion submitted by the GeneralAssembly of the United Nations on the
question of the of the Threat or Use of NuclearWeaQQns.

As indicated in Press Communiqué No.94/15, the President of the

Court, by an Order of 20 June 1994,extended to 20 September 1994 the
time-limit within which written statementsmight be submitted to the
Court by the World Health Organization and bythose of its member States
who are entitled to appear before the Court (Article66, paragraph 2, of
the Statute). By the same Order, the President fixed 20 June 1995 as the time-limit
within which Statesand organizationshaving presented written statements

might submit written commentson the other written statements
(Article 66, paragraph 4, of the Statute of the Court).

Written statements were filedby Australia, Azerbaijan, Colombia,
Costa Rica, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Finland, France,

Germany, India, Ireland, the Islamic Republicof Iran, Italy, Japan,
Kazakhstan, Lithuania, Malaysia, Mexico,Moldova, Nauru, the Netherlands,
New Zealand, Norway, Papua New Guinea, Philippines,the Russian
Federation, Rwanda, Samoa,Saudi Arabia, the Solomon Islands, Sri Lanka,

Sweden, Uganda, Ukraine,the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern
Ireland and the UnitedStates of America.

By 20 June 1995 written commentshad been filed by France, India,
Malaysia, Nauru, the Russian Federation, the Solomon Islands, the

United Kingdom of Great Britain and NorthernIreland and the
United States of America. The written proceedingsin this case were thus
concluded.

The written statementsand comments are not yet available to the
Press and public; under Article 106 of the Rules of Court, the Court or
the President may decide that such statements shall be made accessibleto
the public on or after the opening of the oral proceedings.

NOTE FOR THE PRESS

1. The public sittingwill be held in the Great Hall of Justice of
the Peace Palace. Members of the Press will be entitled to attend on
presentation of an admission card, which may be obtained upon
application. The tables reserved forthem are situated on the far left

of the public entrance of the courtroom.

2. Photographs may be taken before the opening, during the first
five minutes of thesitting; and also for a few minutes towards the end.
Filming for cinema or televisionpurposes is however subject to special

authorization.

3. In the Press Room, located on the ground floor of the Peace Palace
(Room 5), the Court's proceedingswill be relayed through a loudspeaker.

4. Members of the Press who wish to make phonecalls may use the
public telephonesin the Post Office in the basement of the Palace.

5. Mr. A. Th. Witteveen, Secretary in charge of informationmatters

(tel.No. 3022336), or, in his absence, Mrs. N. C. El-Erian, Information
Officer (tel.No. 30223371, will be available to deal with any requests
for informationby members of the Press.