INTERNATIONAL COURTOFJUSTICE
Peace Palace, 2517 KJ The Hague. Tel.(31-70-302 23 23). Cables: Intercourt, The Hague.
Telefax (31-70-364 99 28). Telex 32323.lnternet address: http: www.icj-cij.org
Communiqué
unoffici.al
foimmediaterelease
No. 98/35
2 November 1998
lndoriesia and Malaysia jointly bring dispute over islands
to the InternationaCourt of Justice
THE HAGUE, 2 November 1998. lndonesia and Malaysia today jointly seised
the 1ntemat ional Court of Ju(CJ) of a dispute concem ing sovereignty over Pulau Ligitan and
Pulau Sipadan, two islands in the Celebes Sea.
They did so by notîfyîng the Court of a Special Agreement which was signed between them
on 31 May 1997 at Kuala Lumpur and which entered into force on 14 May 1998.
ln the Special Agreement, the Parties request the Court "to determine on the basis of
the treaties, agreements andany other evidence fumished by [them], whether sovereîgnty over Pulau
Ligitan and Pulau Sipadan belongs to the Republic of lndonesia or to Malaysia".
They express the wish to settle their dispute "in the spirit of friendly relations existing
between [them] as enunciated inthe 1976 Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia" and
declare in advance that they will "accept the Judgment of the Court given pursuant to [the] Special
Agreement as final and binding upon them".
In the Special Agreement, the Parties further set out their views on the procedure ta be
followed. These will be taken into account by the Court when fixing time-limits for the filing of
• written pleadings in an Order, which will be the subject of a subsequent press communiqué.
The full text of the Special Agreement will soon be available on the Court's website.
Website addressof the Court: http://www.icj-cij.org
Information Office:
Mr. Arthur Witteveen, Secretary of the Court (tel: 31-70-302 2336)
Mrs. Laurence Blairon, Information Officer (tel: 31-70-302 2337)
E-mail address: [email protected]
Indonesia and Malaysia jointly bring dispute over islands to the International Court of Justice