Frontier Dispute (Benin/Niger) - Changes in the composition of the Chamber - The Chamber will hold public hearings from 7 to 11 March 2005

INTERNATIONAL COURT OF WSTICE

Peace Palace, 2517 KJ The Hague. Tel: +31 (0)70 302 23 23. Cables: Intercourt,
The Hague. Fax: +31 (0)70 364 99 28. Telex: 32323. E-mail address:

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Press Release

Unofficial

No. 2005/6
21 February 2005

Frontier Dispute (Benin/Niger)

Changes in the composition of the Cham ber

The Chamber will hold public hearings

from 7 to 11 March 2005

THE HAGUE, 21 February 2005. By an Order of 16 February 2005, the International Court
of Justice placed on record certain changes in the composition of the Chamber formed to deal with

the case concerning the Frontier Dispute (Benin/Niger). The Chamber will hold public hearings in
this case from 7 to 11 March 2005.

Changes in the composition of the Chamber

In its above-mentioned Order, the Court declares that on 16 February 2005
Judge Ronny Abraham was elected a member of the Chamber to fill the vacancy left by the
resignation of Judge Guillaume, former President of that Chamber. As a result of that resignation,
the Vice-President of the Court, Judge Raymond Ranjeva, has become the new President of the

Chamber which is now composed as follows:

President R. Ranjeva
Judges P.H. Kooijmans
R. Abraham

Judges ad hoc M. Bedjaoui (chosen by Niger)
M. Bennouna (chosen by Benin)

The Court made its Order after ascertaining the Parties' views regarding the composition of

the Chamber pursuant to Article 17, paragraph 2, of the Rules of Court.

Programme of public hearings

The Chamber will hold public hearings from 7 to 11 March 2005 according to the following

schedule:

First round of oral argument:

Monday 7 March 2005 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Benin

from 3 to 6 p.m. Benin

Tuesday 8 March 2005 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Niger
from 3 to 6 p.m. Niger - 2-

Second round of oral argument:

Thursday 10 March 2005 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Benin

Friday 11 March 2005 from 3 to 6 p.m. Niger

History of the proceedings

By joint letter of 11 April2002, filed in the Registry on 3 May 2002, Benin and Niger
notified to the Court a Special Agreement, which was signed on 15 June 2001 in Cotonou and
entered into force on 11 April 2002.

In the Special Agreement,the Parties requested the Court to:

"ill determine the course of the boundary between the Republic of Benin and the
Republic of Niger in the sector of the River Niger;

.(hl specify which State owns each of the islands in the said river, and in particular

LétéIsland;

f.f2 determine the course of the boundary between the two States in the sector of the
River Mekrou."

The Parties agreed in advance to accept as final and binding upon them the judgment which
the Chamber would render pursuant to the Special Agreement.

Each Party filed a Memorial, a Counter-Memorial and a Reply within the time-limits fixed in

accordance with Article 3, paragraph 1, of the Special Agreement.

The full text of the Order rendered by 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 70 302 23 36)

Mrs. Laurence Blairon and Mr. Boris Heim, Information Officers ( + 31 70 302 23 37)
E-mail address: information @icj-cij.org