Sovereignty over Pedra Branca/Pulau Batu Puteh, Middle Rocks and South Ledge (Malaysia/Singapore) - Fixing of the time-limit for the filing of a Reply by each of the Parties

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. 2005/3
3 February 2005

Sovereignty over Pedra Branca/Pulau Batu Puteh, Middle Rocks and South Ledge
(Malaysia/Singapore)

Fixing of the time-limit for the filing of a Reply by each of the Parties

THE HAGUE, 3 February 2005. By an Order of 1 February 2005 the International Court of
Justice(ICJ) fixed 25November2005 as the time-limit for the filing of a Reply by each of the
Parties in the case concerning Sovereignty over Pedra Branca/Pulau Batu Puteh, Middle Rocks and

South Ledge (Malaysia/Singapore).

The Court took this decision taking into account the provisions of the Special Agreement
between the Parties, by which it was seised of the case.

The subsequent procedure has been reserved for further decision.

History of the proceedings

On 24July2003, Malaysia and Singapore jointly submitted to the Court a dispute
concerning sovereignty over Pedra Branca/Pulau Batu Puteh, Middle Rocks and South Ledge.

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

In the Special Agreement, the Parties requestthe Court “to determine whether sovereignty
over: (a) Pedra Branca/Pulau Batu Puteh; (b) Middle Rocks; (c) South Ledge, belongs to

Malaysia or the Republic of Singapore”. They agree in advance “to accept the Judgment of the
Court . . . as final and binding upon them”.

The Parties filed their Memorials and Counter-M emorials within the time-limits fixed by the
Court by an Order dated 1September2003, taki ng into account the provisions of the Special

Agreement.

Procedure

Contentious proceedings before the Court consist of two phases: written and oral. When the

proceedings are instituted by way of a special ag reement, as in the present case, the number and
order of the written pleadings is governed by the provisions of that agreement, unless the Court,
after ascertaining the views of the parties, decides otherwise. Upon the closure of the written
phase, public hearings are organized. The Court th en delivers its judgment. The written pleadings
remain confidential during the written phase of the proceedings. They are made accessible to the - 2 -

public only on or after the opening of the oral proc eedings, subject to a decision to that effect by
the Court after it has consulted the parties.

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The full text of the Order will shortly be av ailable on the Court’s website at the following
address: http://www.icj-cij.org

____________

Information Department

Mr. Arthur Witteveen, First Secretary (+ 31 (0)70 302 23 36)

Mrs. Laurence Blairon and Mr. Boris Heim, Information Officers (+ 31 (0)70 302 23 37)
E-mail address: [email protected]