Question of the Delimitation of the Continental Shelf between Nicaragua and Colombia beyond 200 Nautical Miles from the Nicaraguan Coast (Nicaragua v. Colombia) - Fixing of new time-limits for the fil

INTERNATIONAL COURT OF JUSTICE
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Press Release

Unofficial

No. 2016/14
4 May 2016

Question of the Delimitation of the Continental Shelf between Nicaragua and Colombia

beyond 200 nautical miles from the Nicaraguan Coast (Nicaragua v. Colombia)

Fixing of new time-limits for the filing of pleadings on the merits

THE HAGUE, 4 May 2016. By an Order dated 28 April 2016, the President of the
International Court of Justice (ICJ), the principal judicial organ of the United Nations, has fixed
28 September 2016 and 28 September 2017 as the new respective time-limits for the filing of a
Memorial by the Republic of Nicaragua and a Counter-Memorial by the Republic of Colombia in
the case concerning Question of the Delimitation of the Continental Shelf between Nicaragua and
Colombia beyond 200 nautical miles from the Nicaraguan Coast (Nicaragua v. Colombia).

It is explained in the Order that the Applicant had already had at its disposal a part of the
period of 12 months initially given to each Party for the preparation of its written pleadings before
the proceedings were suspended on the merits, and that therefore it would be proper to accord each
of them a time-limit which takes into consideration that specific situation.

It is recalled that by its Order dated 9 December 2013, the Court fixed 9 December 2014 and
9 December 2015 as the time-limits for the filing, respectively, of a Memorial of Nicaragua and a
Counter-Memorial of Colombia. However, the filing by Colombia, on 14 August 2014, of
preliminary objections to the jurisdiction of the Court and to the admissibility of Nicaragua’s
Application had the effect of suspending the proceedings on the merits.

It is further recalled that, by a Judgment dated 17 March 2016, the Court found that it had

jurisdiction, on the basis of Article XXXI of the Pact of Bogotá, to entertain the First Request put
forward by Nicaragua in its Application and that that Request was admissible.

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The history of the proceedings may be found in the Annual Report of the Court for
2014-2015 (paras. 150-161), and in press releases Nos. 2015/26 of 9 October 2015 and 2016/9 of
17 March 2016, which are available on the Court’s website (www.icj-cij.org).

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The full text of the Order of 28 April 2016 will be available shortly in the case file on the
Court’s website (under “Cases/Contentious Cases”).

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Note: The Court’s press releases do not constitute official documents.

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The International Court of Justice (ICJ) is the principal judicial organ of the United Nations.
It was established by the United Nations Charter in June 1945 and began its activities in
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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)