Application of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (Azerbaijan v. Armenia) - Conclusion of the public hearings on the Request for the indication of pr

INTERNATIONAL COURT OF JUSTICE
Peace Palace, Carnegieplein 2, 2517 KJ The Hague, Netherlands
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Press Release
Unofficial
No. 2023/6
31 January 2023
Application of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (Azerbaijan v. Armenia) Conclusion of the public hearings on the Request for the indication of provisional measures submitted by Azerbaijan The Court to begin its deliberation
THE HAGUE, 31 January 2023. The public hearings on the Request for the indication of provisional measures submitted by the Republic of Azerbaijan in the case concerning Application of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (Azerbaijan v. Armenia) concluded today. The Court will now begin its deliberation.
During the hearings, which were held on Tuesday 31 January 2023 at the seat of the Court at the Peace Palace, the delegation of Azerbaijan was led by H.E. Mr. Elnur Mammadov, Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan, as Agent. The delegation of Armenia was led by H.E. Mr. Yeghishe Kirakosyan, Representative of the Republic of Armenia on International Legal Matters, as Agent.
The Court’s decision on the request for provisional measures will be delivered at a public sitting, the date of which will be announced in due course.
Requests of the Parties
At the close of Azerbaijan’s oral argument, the Agent of Azerbaijan made the following request to the Court:
“In accordance with Article 60 (2) of the Rules of Court, on the basis of the facts and law set out in the Republic of Azerbaijan’s Request for the Indication of Provisional Measures of Protection dated 3 January 2023, and for the reasons explained during these hearings, the Republic of Azerbaijan respectfully asks the Court to indicate the following provisional measures:
a) Armenia shall immediately take all necessary steps to enable Azerbaijan to undertake the prompt, safe and effective demining of the towns, villages, and other areas to which Azerbaijani civilians will return in the Lachin District, Kalbajar District and other formerly occupied districts of Azerbaijan, including by providing
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information about the location, quantity, type and characteristics of landmines, booby traps and other explosive devices in these areas, in order to enable Azerbaijani internally displaced persons to return to their homes; and
b) Armenia shall immediately cease and desist from any further efforts to plant or to sponsor or support the planting of landmines and booby traps in these areas to which Azerbaijani civilians will return in Azerbaijan’s territory, including, but not limited to, the use of the Lachin Corridor for this purpose.”
At the close of Armenia’s oral argument, the Agent of Armenia made the following request to the Court:
“On the basis of its oral pleadings, Armenia respectfully requests the Court to reject Azerbaijan’s request for the indication of provisional measures in full.”
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History of the proceedings
The history of the proceedings can be found in press releases Nos. 2021/21, 2021/35, 2023/1 and 2023/3, available on the Court’s website.
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Note: The Court’s press releases are prepared by its Registry for information purposes only and do not constitute official documents.
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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 Charter in June 1945 and began its activities in April 1946. The Court is composed of 15 judges elected for a nine-year term by the General Assembly and the Security Council of the United Nations. The seat of the Court is at the Peace Palace in The Hague (Netherlands). The Court has a twofold role: first, to settle, in accordance with international law, through judgments which have binding force and are without appeal for the parties concerned, legal disputes submitted to it by States; and, second, to give advisory opinions on legal questions referred to it by duly authorized United Nations organs and agencies of the system.
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