Aerial Herbicide Spraying (Ecuador v. Colombia) - Extension of the time-limit for the filing of Colombia's Rejoinder

INTERNATIONAL COURT OF JUSTICE

Peace Palace, Carnegieplein 2, 2517 KJ The Hague, Netherlands
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Website: www.icj-cij.org

Press Release
Unofficial

No. 2011/31
21 October 2011

Aerial Herbicide Spraying (Ecuador v. Colombia)

Extension of the time-limit for the filing of Colombia’s Rejoinder

THE HAGUE, 21October2011. The President of the International Court of Justice(ICJ),
principal judicial organ of the United Nations,has extended the time-limit for the filing of the

Rejoinder of the Republic of Colombia in the case concerning Aerial Herbicide Spraying
(Ecuador v. Colombia) from 1 December 2011 to 1 February 2012.

The subsequent procedure has been reserved for further decision.

The decision to extend the time-limit was made taking account of the views of the Parties.

In his Order of 19October2011, the President of the International Court of Justice pointed
out that, in a letter dated 6 October 2011 and received in the Registry on the same day, the Agent of
the Republic of Colombia had referred to “the time necessary to obtain the complete file of

documents obtained by Ecuador under the United States Freedom of Information Act (some of
which were tendered with the Reply)”, and ha d asked the Court, “[t]aking into account the
difficulties posed by the December holiday season, which will delay printi ng and proofing of the
Rejoinder until January”, to extend the time-limit fo r the filing of the Rejoinder of Colombia until
1 February 2012.

In the same Order, the President then pointed out that, on receipt of that letter, the Registrar
had transmitted a copy thereof to the Agent of the Republic of Ecuador who, by letter dated
18October2011 and received in the Regist ry on the same day, had indicated, inter alia, that his
Government had no objection to the extension of th e time-limit for the filing of the Rejoinder, as

requested by the Republic of Colombia.

History of the proceedings

For a history of the proceedings, please consult the 2009-2010 Report of the Court

(paras.158-164), available to download on the Court’s website (go to “The Court”/“Annual
Reports”/“2009-2010”). The full text of the Or der made on 19October 2011 will be available
shortly to download on the Court’s website (www.icj-cij.org ) under the heading
“Cases”/“Contentious Cases”.

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The International Court of Justice (ICJ) is the principal judicial organ of the United Nations.
It was established by the United Nations Char ter in June1945 and began its activities in

April1946. The seat of the Court is at the Peace Palace in The Hague (Netherlands). Of the six
principal organs of the United Nations, it is the only one not located in New York. The Court has a
twofold role: first, to settle, in accordance with international law, legal disputes submitted to it by
States (its judgments have binding force and are w ithout appeal for the Parties concerned); and,

second, to give advisory opinions on legal questi ons referred to it by duly authorized United
Nations organs and agencies of the system. The Court is composed of 15judges elected for a
nine-year term by the General Assembly and the Security Council of the United Nations. It is
assisted by a Registry, its international secretariat, whose activities are both judicial and diplomatic,

as well as administrative. The official languages of the Court are French and English.

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Information Department:

Mr. Andrey Poskakukhin, First Secretary of the Court, Head of Department (+31 (0)70 302 2336)
Mr. Boris Heim, Information Officer (+31 (0)70 302 2337)

Ms Joanne Moore, Associate Information Officer (+31 (0)70 302 2394)
Ms Genoveva Madurga, Administrative Assistant (+31 (0)70 302 2396)