Legal Consequences for States of the Continued Presence of South Africa in Namibia (South West Africa) notwithstanding Security Council Resolution 276 (1970) - The Court rejects two requests by the Go

INTERNATIONAL COURT OF JUSTICE
Peace Palace. The Hague ,Tet.39 23 44 ·Cables: lntercourt. TheHague

communiqué

1111011/d•I .
forimm«liartJ/Ma

No. 71/7
14 May 1971

Request for an Advisory Opinion on the Legal Consequences for

States of the Continued Presence of South Africain Namibia
(South West Africa) notwithstanding
Security Council Resolution Z76 (1970)

The following information is communicated to the Press by the
Registry of the International Court of Justice:

The International Court of Justice has rejected two requests by
the Government of South Africa, one concerning the possible holding of
a plebiscite in Namibia (South West Africa) and the other the supply
of further factual material on the situation in the Territory. After
examining the matter, the Court does not find itself in need of further
arguments or information.

Today, 14 May, the President has written notifying the Court s
decision to the representatives of those States and organizations

which presented oral statements to the Court in the proceedings
concerning the advisory opinion requested by the Security Council on
the Legal Consequences for States of the Continued Presence of South
Africa in Namibia (South We.st Africa) notwithstanding Security Council
resolution 276 (1970).

The first request rejected concerncd a suggestion for the holding
of a plebiscite in Namibia (South West Africa) under the joint
supervision of the Court and the South African Government. Announced
in a letter of zr January 1971., this was put forward in a further
e letter of 6 February and enlarged upon by the South African
representative at public sittings on 16 February and 5, 10 and 17 March.
Views on the proposal were heard from the United Nations, the
Organization of African Unity, Finland, India, Pa..~istan and the United
States., at the sittings of 9, 10, 11 and 15 February, and 8 and 9 March.

The second request was to be allowed to supply the Court with
further factual rnaterial concerning the situation in Narnibia (South
West Africa) 11following the written and oral statements already
presented by South Africa on the points of law raised by the question
putto the Court by the Security Council. This was notified in the
letters of 27 January and 6 February and enlarged upon at the sittings
of 5, 16 and 17 March.

At the public sitting of 17 March the President stated that the
Court would have to defer its decision on the two requests.

The date on which the Court will deliver its advisory opinion will
be announced in due course.