Certain Property (Liechtenstein v. Germany) - Preliminary Objections - The Court will hold public hearings from 14 to 18 June 2004

INTERNATIONAL COURTOFWSTICE
PeacePalace,2517 KJ TheHague.Tel:+31 (0)70302 23 23. Cables:Intercourt,

TheHague.Fax: +31 (0)70 364 9928. Telex:32323.E-mailaddress:
[email protected]:http://www.icj-cij.org.

PressRelease
Unofficial

No. 2004/14
16March 2004

Certain Property (Liechtenstein v. Germany)

Preliminary Objections

The Court will hold public hearings from 14 to 18 June4

THE HAGUE, 16 March 2004. The International Court of Justice (ICJ), principal judicial
organ of the United Nations, will hold public hearings in the case concerning Certain Property
(Liechtenstein v. Germany) from Monday 14 to Friday 18June 2004 at the Peace Palace, seat of
the Court.

It should be pointed out that, following preliminary objections to jurisdiction and

admissibility raised by Germany on 27 June 2002, the proceedings on the merits were suspended
pursuant to Article 79 of the Rules of Court. The purpose of the forthcoming hearings is thus to
hear the oral statements of the Parties on those preliminary objections.

Historyof the proceedings

On 1June 2001 Liechtenstein filed an Application instituting proceedings against Germany
relating to a dispute concerning "decisions of Germany, in and after 1998, to treat certain property
of Liechtenstein nationals as German assets having been 'seized for the purposes of reparation or
restitution, ora result of the state of war'-ias a consequence of World War II-without
ensuring any compensation for the lossf that property to its owners, and to the detriment of

Liechtenstein itself'.

In its Application, Liechtenstein requests the Court "to adjudge and declare that Germany
has incurred international legal responsibility and is bound to make appropriate reparation to
Liechtenstein for the damage and prejudice suffered". Liechtenstein further requests "that the
nature and amount of such reparation should, in the absence of agreement between the parties, be
assessed and determined by the Court, if necessary, in a separate phase of the proceedings". As a
basis for the Court's jurisdiction, Liechtenstein invokes Article 1 of the European Convention for
the Peaceful Settlement ofDisputes, signed at Strasbourg on 29 April 1957.

By an Order of 28 June 2001, the Court fixed 28 March 2002 and 27 December 2002,
respectively, as the time-limits for the filing of a Memorial by Liechtenstein and of a
Counter-Memorial by Germany. The Memorial was filed within the time-limit thus fixed.

On 27 June 2002, as Germany had filed preliminary objections to the jurisdiction of the
Court and to the admissibility of Liechtenstein's Application, the proceedings on the merits were
suspended (Art. 79 of the Rules of Court). Within the time-limit of 15November 2002, as fixedby -2-

the President of the Court, Liechtenstein filed a written statement of its observations and
submissions with regard to the preliminary objections raised by Germany.

Information Department:

Mr. Arthur Th. Witteveen, First Secretary of the Court (+31 70 302 23 36)
Mrs. Laurence Blairon and Mr. Boris Heim, Information Officers (+31 70 302 23 37)
Email address: information@icj -cij.org