Malaysia and Singapore jointly submit a dispute concerning sovereignty over Pedra Branca/Pulau Batu Puteh, Middle Rocks and South Ledge to the International Court of Justice

INTERNATIONAL COURT OF JUSTICE

Peace Palace, Carnegieplein 2, 2517 KJ The Hague, Netherlands
Tel.: +31 (0)70 302 2323 Fax: +31 (0)70 364 9928
Website: www.icj-cij.org

Press Release
Unofficial

No. 2003/22
24 July 2003

Malaysia and Singapore jointly submit a dispute concerning sovereignty
over Pedra Branca/Pulau Batu Puteh, Middle Rocks and South Ledge
to the International Court of Justice

THE HAGUE, 24 July 2003. Malaysia and Si ngapore today jointly seised the International
Court of Justice (ICJ) of a dispute concerning overeignty over Pedra Branca/Pulau Batu Puteh,
Middle Rocks and South Ledge.

They did so by notifying the Court of a Special Agreement which was signed between them
on 6 February 2003 at Putrajaya and which entered into force on 9 May 2003.

In the Special Agreement, the Parties requesthe Court “to determine whether sovereignty
over:

(a) Pedra Branca/Pulau Batu Puteh;

(b) MiddleRocks;

(c) SouthLedge,

belongs to Malaysia or the Republic of Singapore”.

They “agree to accept the Judgment of the Court . . . as final and binding upon them”.

Pursuant to the Special Agreement, the Parties further set out their views on the procedure to
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 release.

___________

The full text of the Special Agreement will shortly be available on the Courts website:
www.icj-cij.org.

___________
Information Department:

Mr. Arthur Witteveen, Secretary of the Court (tel: + 31 (0)70 302 2336)

Mrs. Laurence Blairon & Mr. Boris Heim, Information Officers (tel: + 31 (0)70 302 2337)
E-mail address: [email protected]
Website of the Court: www.icj-cij.org