Sovereignty over Pedra Branca/Pulau Batu Puteh, Middle Rocks and South Ledge (Malaysia/Singapore) - Fixing of time-limits for the filing of written pleadings

INTERNATIONAL COURT OF JUSTICE

Peace Palace, Carnegieplein 2, 2517 KJ The Hague, Netherlands
Tel.: +31 (0)70 302 2323 Fax: +31 (0)70 364 9928
Website: www.icj-cij.org

Press Release
Unofficial

No. 2003/28
9 September 2003

Sovereignty over Pedra Branca/Pulau Batu Puteh, Middle Rocks and South Ledge
(Malaysia/Singapore)

Fixing of time-limits for the filing of written pleadings

THE HAGUE, 9 September 2003. The President of the International Court of Justice (ICJ)
has fixed time-limits for the filing of the first wr itten pleadings in the case concerning Sovereignty
over Pedra Branca/Pulau Batu Puteh, Middle Rocks and South Ledge (Malaysia/Singapore).

By an Order of 1 September 2003, President Shi decided that the Parties would each file a
Memorial no later than 25 March 2004 and a Counter-Memorial no later than 25 January 2005.

The President of the Court fixed the time-limits taking into account the provisions of
Article 4 of the Special Agreement concluded betw een the two Parties. The subsequent procedure

has been reserved for further decision.

History of the proceedings

On 24 July 2003, Malaysia and Singapore jointly seised the Court of a dispute concerning

sovereignty over Pedra Branca/Pulau Batu Puteh, Middle Rocks and South Ledge. They did so by
notifying the Court of a Special Agreement which was signed between them on 6 February 2003 at
Putrajaya and which entered into force on 9 May 2003.

In the Special Agreement, the Parties requesthe Court “to determine whether sovereignty
over: (a) Pedra Branca/Pulau Batu Puteh; (b) Middle Rocks; (c) South Ledge, belongs to

Malaysia or the Republic of Singapore”. They agree in advance “to accept the Judgment of the
Court . . . as final and binding upon them”.

Procedure

Contentious proceedings before the Court consist of two phases: written and oral. During
the first phase, the number and order of the written pleadings is governed by the provisions of the
special agreement, unless the Court, after ascertaini ng the views of the parties, decides otherwise.
Upon the closure of the written phase, public hearings are organized. The Court then delivers its
judgment. The written pleadings remain confidenti al during the written phase of the proceedings.

They are made accessible to the public only on or after the opening of the oral proceedings, subject
to a decision to that effect by the Court after it has consulted the parties.

___________ - 2 -

The full text of the Order rendered by the Presi dent of the Court will shortly be available on
the Court’s website at the following address: http://www.icj-cij.org

____________

Information Department

Mr. Arthur Witteveen, First Secretary (+ 31 (0)70 302 23 36)
Mrs. Laurence Blairon and Mr. Boris Heim, Information Officers (+ 31 (0)70 302 23 37)
E-mail address: [email protected]