Application of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide (Croatia v. Serbia) - Preliminary Objections - Conclusion of the public hearings; Court to begin its deliberatio

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. 2008/12

30 May 2008

Application of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment
of the Crime of Genocide (Croatia v. Serbia)

Preliminary Objections

Conclusion of the public hearings; Court to begin its deliberation

THE HAGUE, 30 May 2008. The public hearings on the preliminary objections in the case
concerning Application of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of
Genocide (Croatia v. Serbia) were concluded today. The Court will now start its deliberation.

During the hearings, which opened on 26 May 20 08 at the Peace Palace, seat of the Court,
the delegation of Croatia was led by His Excellency Mr. Ivan Šimonović, as Agent. The delegation

of Serbia was led by Mr. Tibor Varady, as Agent.

The Court’s Judgment will be rendered at a public sitting, the date of which will be
announced in due course.

Final submissions of the Parties

At the end of the oral proceedings, the Agen ts of the Parties presented the following final
submissions to the Court:

For Croatia:

“The Republic of Croatia respectfully requests the International Court of Justice
to:

1. reject the first, second and third prelimin ary objection of Serbia, with the

exception of that part of the second preliminary objection which relates to the
claim concerning the submission to trial of Mr. Slobodan Miloševi ć, and
accordingly to

2. adjudge and declare that it has jurisdiction to adjudicate upon the Application filed
by the Republic of Croatia on 2 July 1999.”

For Serbia:

“Serbia requests the Court to adjudge and declare:

1. that the Court lacks jurisdiction,

or in the alternative - 2 -

2. (a) that claims based on acts or omissions which took place prior to 27 April 1992
are beyond the jurisdiction of this Court and inadmissible; and

(b) that claims referring to

⎯ submission to trial of certain persons within the jurisdiction of Serbia,

⎯ providing information regarding the whereabouts of missing Croatian citizens, and

⎯ return of cultural property

are beyond the jurisdiction of this Court and inadmissible.”

___________

The verbatim records of the hearings held between 26 and 30 May 2008 are available on the

Court’s website (www.icj-cij.org).

___________

Information Department:

Mrs. Laurence Blairon, Secretary of the Court, Head of the Department (+31 70 302 23 36)

Messrs. Boris Heim and Maxime Schouppe, Information Officers (+31 70 302 23 37)
Ms Joanne Moore, Associate Information Officer (+31 70 302 23 94)