Questions relating to the Obligation to Prosecute or Extradite (Belgium v. Senegal) - Extension of the time-limit for the filing of Senegal's Counter-Memorial

INTERNATIONAL COURT OF JUSTICE

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Press Release
Unofficial

No. 2011/23
22 July 2011

Questions relating to the Obligation to Prosecute or Extradite
(Belgium v. Senegal)

Extension of the time-limit for the filing of Senegal’s Counter-Memorial

THE HAGUE, 22July2011. The President of the International Court of Justice(ICJ), the
principal judicial organ of the United Nations,has extended the time-limit for the filing of the
Counter-Memorial of the Republic of Senegal in the case concerning Questions relating to the

Obligation to Prosecute or Extradite (Belgium v. Senegal) from 11 July 2011 to 29 August 2011.

The subsequent procedure was reserved for further decision.

In his Order of 11July2011, the President of the Court explained that, by letter dated
10July2011 and received in the Registry on 11 July2011, a copy of which was immediately

communicated to the Belgian Government, the Agen t of the Republic of Senegal, referring to a
decision of the ECOWAS Court of Justice dated 18 November 2010 and to the developments prior
to and following the adoption, on 1 July 2011, of a decision by the Assembly of the African Union,
had asked the Court to extend the time-limit for th e filing of his Government’s Counter-Memorial
until 29 August 2011.

In the same Order, the President then explained that, by letter dated 11July2011 and
received in the Registry the same day, containing his Government’s views on the request for an
extension of the time-limit, the Agent of the Kingdom of Belgium indicated, inter alia, that the
decision rendered by the ECOWAS Court of Justice did not drastically alter the substance of the

dispute between Belgium and Senegal and that the decision of the Assembly of the African Union
of 1 July 2011 merely reiterated the decision adopt ed by the same Assembly in January 2011. The
Agent of the Kingdom of Belgium asserted, moreov er, that the further time-limit requested by
Senegal, supposing it to be essential, was too long . He nevertheless added that his Government
would leave the decision on Senegal’s request to the wisdom of the Court. - 2 -

History of the proceedings

For a history of the pr oceedings, please consult the 2009-2010 Report of the Court
(paras.205-216), available to download on the Court’s website (go to “The Court”/“Annual
Reports”/“2009-2010”). The full text of the Order made on 11July2011 can be found on the

Court’s website (http://www.icj-cij.org), under the heading “Cases”/“Contentious Cases”.

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Mr. Boris Heim, Information Officer (+31 (0)70 302 2337)
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Ms Genoveva Madurga, Administrative Assistant (+31 (0)70 302 2396)