Vienna Convention on Consular Relations (Paraguay v. United States of America) - Extension of time-limits for the filing of written pleadings

INTERNATIONAL COURTOFJUSTICE

Peace Palace, 2517 KJ The Hague. Te1.(31-70·302 23 23). Cables: Intercourt, The Hague.
Telefax (31-70-364 99 28).Telex 32323. Internet address: http:Il www.icj-cij.org

Communiqué
unofficial
forimmediate release

No 98/22

9 June 1998

Case cooceroiog the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations
(Paraguay v. United States of America)

Extension of time-limits for the filing of written pleadings

THE HAGUE, 9 June 1998. The Vice-President of the International Court of Justice (ICJ),
Judge Christopher G. Weeramantry, Acting President, extended by Order the time-limits for the
filing of written pleadings in the case conceming the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations
(Paraguay v. United States of America).

The time-limit for the filing of the Memorial of Paraguay bas been extended
to 9 October 1998 and the time-limit for the filing ofthe Counter-Memorial ofthe United States
to 9 April 1999.

The Order was made in response to a request from Paraguay ta extend to 9 August 1998
the time-limit for the filing of its Memorial. The Ut)ited States reacted to this request by proposing
additi ~ineato which Paraguay agreed.

The subsequent procedure has been reserved for further decision.

Histocy of the dispute

On 3 April 1998 Paraguay instituted proceedings against the United States in a dispute
concerning alleged violations of the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations of 24 April 1963
with respect to the case ofMr. Angel Francisco Breard, a Paraguayan national convicted of murder

in Virginia (United States) whose execution was scheduled for 14 April 1998 and who was
eventually executedon that date.

Paraguay maintained that Mr. Breard was arrestedtried,convicted and sentenced to death

without Virginia advising bim of his right to assistance by the consular officers of Paraguay, as
required by the Vienna Convention. Accordingly, Paraguay asked the Court to adjudge and declare
that it is entitled to restitujntegrum,that is, the re-establishment of the situation that existed
before the United States failed to provide the required notificIn view of the urgency of the

case, Paraguay also requested the Court to indicate provisional measures to the effect that the United
States should refrain from executing Mr. Breard before the Court could consider Paraguay's claims.
Paraguay made it clear that it did not seek the release of Mr. Breard.

In an Order which was adopted unanimously on 9 April 1998, the Court called on the United
States to "take ali measures at its disposai" to prevent the execution of Mr. Breard, pending a final
decision of the Courinthe proceedings instituted by Paraguay. It also requested the United States

to infonn it of ali the measures taken to that end. In a second Order of the same date, the Vice-President of the Court fixed time-limits for the
filing ofwritten pleadings.uay was to have filed a Memorial by 9 June 1998 and the United
States a Counter-Memorial by 9 September 1998.
The Vice-President exercises the fonctions of the presidency in the case, as the President is
a national of the United States.

Address of the Court's Website: http://www.icj-cij.org

Information Office:

Mr. Arthur Witteveen, Secretaryhe Court (tel: 31-70-302 23 36)
Mrs. Laurence Blairon, Infonnation Officer (tel:2 23 37)

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