Certain Property (Liechtenstein v. Germany) - Fixing of the time-limit within which the Principality of Liechtenstein may present a written statement on the preliminary objections made by the Federal

INTERNATIONAL COURTOFJUSTICE

Peace Palace, 2517 KJ The Hague. Tel: +31 (0)70 302 23 23. Cables: Intercourt,
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Press Release
Unofficial

No. 2002120
26 July 2002

Certain Property
(Liechtenstein v. Germany)

Fixing of the time-limit within which the Principality of Liechtenstein may present a written
statement on the preliminary objections made by the Federal Republic of Germany

THE HAGUE, 26 July 2002. The President of the International Court of Justice (ICJ),
Judge Gilbert Guillaume, has fixed the time-limit within which the Principalityiechtenstein
may present a written statement on the preliminary objections made by the Federal Republic
Germany in the case concerning Certain Property (Liechtenstein v. Germany).

By an Order of 12 July 2002, the President, taking account of the views of the Parties, fixed
15November 2002 as the time-limit for the filing ofthat written statement.

The subsequent procedure has been reserved for further decision.

On 27 June 2002, Germany filed certain preliminary objections to the jurisdiction of the

Court to deal with the case and to the admissibility claims of Liechtenstein. The proceedings
on the meritsof the dispute were accordingly suspended pursuant to Article 79, paragraph 5, of the
Rules of Court and a time-limit had to be fixed for the presentation by Liechtenstein of a written
statementof its observations and submissions on the preliminary objections.

History of the proceedings

On 1 June 2001 Liechtenstein instituted proceedings against Germany relating to a dispute
concerning "decisions of Germany, in and after 1998, to treat certain property of Liechtenstein
nationals as German assets having been 'seized for the purposes of reparation or restitution, or as a
result of the state of war' -i.e.as a consequence of World War II-, without ensuring any

compensation for the loss of that property to its owners, and to the detriment of Liechtenstein
itself'.

In its Application, Liechtenstein requested the Court "to adjudge and declare that Germany
has incurred international legal responsibility and is bound to make appropriate reparation to
Liechtenstein for the damage and prejudicesuffered". Liechtenstein further requested "that the

nature and amount of such reparation should, in the absence of agreement between the parties, be
assessed and determinedby the Court, ifnecessary, in a separate phase of the proceedings". -2-

As a basis for the Court's jurisdiction, Liechtenstein invokèd Article 1 of the European

Convention forthe Peaceful Settlement ofDisputes, signed at Strasbourg on 29 April 1957.

The full text of the Court's Order will shortly be available on the Court's website at the

following address: www.icj-cij.org.

Information Department:
Mr. Arthur Th. Witteveen, First Secretary of the Court (+31 70 302 23 36)
Mrs. Laurence Blairon and Mr. Boris Heim,Information Officers (+31 70 302 23 37)
Email address: [email protected]