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. 2013/30
21 October 2013
Construction of a Road in Costa Rica along the San Juan River
(Nicaragua v. Costa Rica)
Certain Activities carried out by Nicaragua in the Border Area
(Costa Rica v. Nicaragua)
Request for the indication of provisional measures filed by Nicaragua on 11 October 2013
The Court to hold public hearings from Tuesday 5 to Friday 8 November 2013
THE HAGUE, 21 October 2013. The International Court of Justice (ICJ), the principal
judicial organ of the United Nations, will hold public hearings in the case concerning Construction
of a Road in Costa Rica along the San Juan River (Nicaragua v. Costa Rica), which has been joined
with the case concerning Certain Activities carried out by Nicaragua in the Border Area
(Costa Rica v. Nicaragua), from Tuesday 5 to Friday 8 November 2013, at the Peace Palace in
The Hague, the seat of the Court.
The hearings will be devoted to the request for the indication of provisional measures filed
by Nicaragua on 11 October 2013 (see Press Release No. 2013/27).
Schedule for the hearings
First round of oral observations
Tuesday 5 November 2013 10 a.m.-1 p.m.: Nicaragua
Wednesday 6 November 2013 10 a.m.-1 p.m.: Costa Rica
Second round of oral observations
Thursday 7 November 2013 10 a.m.-11.30 a.m.: Nicaragua
Friday 8 November 2013 10 a.m.-11.30 a.m.: Costa Rica
Information regarding the accreditation/admission procedures for these hearings as well as
the video streaming and practical information for the media is attached as an annex below.
___________ Annex to Press Release 2013/30
Admission procedures, video streaming and practical information for the media regarding
the public hearings scheduled from Tuesday 5 to Friday 8 November 2013
For the public hearings scheduled from Tuesday 5 to Friday 8 November 2013, admission
and accreditation procedures have been established for members of the public and the press, and
various video streaming options (low resolution as well as broadcast quality) will be made
available.
A. Admission procedures
1. Access for media representatives
Media representatives are subject to an online accreditation procedure, which will close at
midnight on Thursday 31 October 2013. For full details (timetable, technical facilities, etc.), see
the paragraph below entitled “Further practical information for the media”.
2. Access for members of the public
Owing to the limited number of seats available in the Great Hall of Justice, priority access
will be given to members of the delegations of the States that are parties to the cases, and members
of the Diplomatic Corps. A number of seats will be allocated daily to members of the public on
a first-come, first-served basis. There will be no advance registration procedure.
B. Video streaming
1. Live HD video streaming for the use of the televised media (H264, 1080p)
Live video images of the hearings will be made available, remotely, to the televised media
by means of a high-definition streaming service (H264, 1080p), set up in co-operation with the
Television Section (UNTV) of the United Nations Department of Public Information (UNDPI).
These images (16/9 ratio) will be available in H264 high-definition format (1080p, full HD), in
English and French. Media wishing to obtain these images are requested to send an e-mail to
[email protected] no later than midnight on Thursday 31 October 2013.
A technician will provide assistance in establishing and testing the necessary connection.
2. Live and on-demand video streaming for the general public (web streaming)
It will be possible to follow the hearings live and, later, on demand (VOD) on two channels:
(1) the Court’s website (Multimedia Gallery); and (2) the United Nations online television channel
(webtv.un.org), under the heading “Live Now” and, later, on demand under the heading “Meeting
& Events/ICJ”. This e-broadcast service for the general public will be available in English and
French on desktops. It will be available in the original language on mobile devices.
C. Further practical information for the media
1. Verbatim records of the hearings
Verbatim records of the hearings will be published daily on the Court’s website, with
translations to follow as soon as practicable thereafter. On the final day of the hearings, a press - 2 -
release will be issued presenting the submissions of the Parties. It is recalled that the Court’s press
releases do not constitute official documents.
2. Entry to the Peace Palace
Media representatives must bring with them their personal ID and press card. They are
asked to arrive at the Peace Palace gates between 9 and 9.30 a.m.; the hearings will start at 10 a.m.
Only duly accredited individuals with valid identification will be permitted to enter the Peace
Palace grounds. The Press Room will be open every day from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
3. Parking at the Peace Palace, satellite vehicles
No parking is allowed in the Peace Palace grounds apart from satellite vehicles. Media
wishing to park satellite vehicles are requested to fill in the appropriate fields in the online
accreditation form. Televised media wishing to broadcast the hearings live should read
paragraph B.1 above carefully and contact the Information Department as soon as possible to make
the necessary arrangements.
4. Access to the courtroom
Photographers and camera crews will only be permitted to enter the room for a few minutes
at the start of each hearing. They will be accompanied by Registry staff members and must keep to
the right-hand side of the room. Media representatives will be able to follow the hearings from a
press room.
5. Press Room
Proceedings will be transmitted live on a large screen, in English and French, in a press room
equipped with Internet access (Wi-Fi, Ethernet). TV crews can connect to the Court’s PAL (HD
and SD) and NTSC (SD) audio-visual system (see also paragraph B.1 above), and radio reporters to
the audio system.
6. Other media services
For further information (on requests for interviews, TV stand-up positions, audio and video
outputs available, etc.), please visit the Court’s website. Click on “Press Room”, and then on
“Media Services”.
___________
Information Department:
Mr. Andrey Poskakukhin, First Secretary of the Court, Head of Department (+31 (0)70 302 2336)
Mr. Boris Heim, Information Officer (+31 (0)70 302 2337)
Ms Joanne Moore, Associate Information Officer (+31 (0)70 302 2394)
Ms Genoveva Madurga, Administrative Assistant (+31 (0)70 302 2396)
Certain Activities carried out by Nicaragua in the Border Area (Costa Rica v. Nicaragua) - Request for the indication of provisional measures filed by Nicaragua on 11 October 2013 - The Court to hold public hearings from Tuesday 5 to Friday 8 November 2013