Legality of the Threat or Use by a State of Nuclear Weapons (Request for Advisory Opinion by the General Assembly of the United Nations) - Hearings to open on 30 October 1995 - Submission of written c

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~INTERNATIONAt''" O -F C J US U TR ICT E

Peace Palace, 2517 KJ The Hague. Tei.(070-302 23 23).Cables: Intercowt, The Hague.

Telefax (070-364 99 28). Telex 32323.

Communiqué

unofficial
for immediate rel••••

No. 95/18
27 June 1995

Legality of the Threat or Use of Huclear Weapons

(Request for Adyisory Opinion by the
General Assembly of the United Nations}

Hearings to open on 30 October 1995

Submission of written statements

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

The Court will hold public sittings opening at 10 a.m. on Monday
30 October 1995 for the purpose of hearing oral statements or comments in
respect of the question which the General Assembly of the United Nations
submitted to it for advisory opinion namely:

"Is the threat or use of nuclear weapons in any
circumstance permitted under international law?"

These oral proceedings will also cover the request for advisory
opinion submitted by the World Health Organization on the question of the
Legality of the Use by a State of Nuclear Weapons in Armed Conflict.

*

As indicated in Press Communiqué No. 95/4, the Court, by an Order of
1 February 1995, decided that States entitled to appear before the Court
and the United Nations might furnish information on the question
submitted to the Court and fixed:

- 20 June 1995 as the time-limit within which written statements might be
submitted (Article 66, paragraph 2, of the Statute of the Court) and ~
\

- 2 -

- 20 September 1995 as the time-limit within which States and

organizations having presented written statements might present written
comments on the ether written statements (Article 66, paragraph 4, of
the Statute) .

By 20 June 1995 written statements had been filed by Bosnia and
Herzegovina, Burundi, Ecuador, Egypt, Finland, France, Germany, India,

Ireland, the Islamic Republic of Iran, Italy, Japan, Lesotho, Malaysia,
Mexico, Nauru, the Netherlands, New Zealand, North Korea, Qatar, the
Russian Federation, Samoa, San Marino, the Salomon Islands, Sweden, the

United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United
States of America.

These written statements are not yet available to the Press and
public; under Article 106 of the Rules of Court, the Court or the
President may decide that such statements shall be made accessible ta the

public on or after the opening of the oral proceedings.

*

NOTE FOR THE PRESS

1. The public sitting will be held in the Great Hall of Justice of
the Peace Palace. Members of the Press will be entitled ta attend on
presentation of an admission card, which may be obtained upon

application. The tables reserved for them are situated on the fa~ left
of the public entrance of the courtroom.

2. Photographe may be taken before the opening, during the first
five minutes of the sitting; and also for a few minutes towards the end.
Filming for cinema or television purposes is however subject ta special

authorization.

3. In the Press Room, located on the ground floor of the Peace Palace

(Room 5), the Court's proceedings will be relayed through a loudspeaker.

4. Members of the Press who wish to make phone calls may use the

public telephones in the Post Office in the basement of the Palace.

S. Mr. A. Th. Witteveen, Secretary in charge of information matters

(tel. No. 3022336), or, in his absence, Mrs. N. c. El-Erian, Information
Officer (tel. No. 3022337), will be available to deal with any requests
for information by members of the Press.