Preliminary objections raised by Armenia - Public hearings to be held from Monday 22 to Friday 26 April 2024

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
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Press Release
Unofficial
No. 2024/24
22 March 2024
Application of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (Azerbaijan v. Armenia) Preliminary objections raised by Armenia Public hearings to be held from Monday 22 to Friday 26 April 2024
THE HAGUE, 22 March 2024. The International Court of Justice will hold public hearings on the preliminary objections raised by Armenia in the case concerning Application of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (Azerbaijan v. Armenia) at the Peace Palace in The Hague, the seat of the Court, from Monday 22 to Friday 26 April 2024.
It is recalled that, on 23 September 2021, Azerbaijan instituted proceedings against Armenia concerning alleged violations of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (see press release 2021/21). On 21 April 2023, Armenia raised preliminary objections to the jurisdiction of the Court and the admissibility of the Application and, in accordance with Article 79bis, paragraph 3, of the Rules of Court, the proceedings on the merits were therefore suspended, pending a decision of the Court on these preliminary objections (see press release 2023/23).
By an Order dated 25 April 2023, the President of the Court fixed 21 August 2023 as the time-limit within which Azerbaijan might present a written statement of its observations and submissions on those preliminary objections. Azerbaijan submitted its statement within that time-limit. Pursuant to Article 53, paragraph 2, of the Rules of Court, the Court may, after ascertaining the views of the Parties, decide that the texts of the preliminary objections of Armenia and the written observations of Azerbaijan will be made accessible to the public at the start of the hearings (on the case page on the website of the Court).
Schedule for the hearings
Monday 22 April 2024 10 a.m.-1 p.m.: First round of oral argument (Armenia)
Tuesday 23 April 2024 10 a.m.- 1 p.m.: First round of oral argument (Azerbaijan)
Wednesday 24 April 2024 4.30 p.m.-6 p.m.: Second round of oral argument (Armenia)
Friday 26 April 2024 10 a.m.-11.30 a.m.: Second round of oral argument (Azerbaijan)
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Members of the diplomatic corps, the public and the media will find below practical information regarding the organization of the hearings.
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A. Practical information and admission procedures
There will be no parking on the Peace Palace grounds.
1. Members of the diplomatic corps
Members of the diplomatic corps who wish to attend the hearings are requested to kindly fill out an online registration form by midnight (The Hague time) on Wednesday 17 April 2024. Seats in the Great Hall of Justice will be allocated on the basis of availability. On presenting a confirmation of registration from the Information Department and valid diplomatic ID at the main gate of the Peace Palace on the day(s) of the hearings, diplomats will be given a badge providing access to the Great Hall of Justice.
2. Members of the public
Only 15 seats will be available in the public gallery for members of the public on a first-come first-served basis. There will be no advance registration procedure, and admission requests submitted beforehand will not be considered. Members of the public wishing to attend the hearings are requested to present themselves at the main gate of the Peace Palace 40 minutes before the start of the hearings at the latest. They will be given a badge providing access to the public gallery on presentation of valid ID. The security officers at the gate will notify those concerned once all available seats have been filled.
3. Media representatives
Media representatives who wish to attend the hearings are requested to kindly fill out an online accreditation form by midnight (The Hague time) on Wednesday 17 April 2024. Requests submitted after this deadline will not be considered. The Court’s press room can accommodate 30 people only. Accreditation requests will be considered on a first-come first-served basis. No requests received by phone or email will be accepted.
B. Further practical information for the media
1. Entry to the Peace Palace
Only duly accredited individuals with valid identification will be permitted to enter the Peace Palace grounds. Accredited media representatives must bring with them their personal ID and press card. They are asked to arrive at the Peace Palace gates no later than 30 minutes before the start of the hearings. The press room will be open one and a half hours before the start of the hearings and will close one hour after they conclude.
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2. Access to the courtroom
A limited number of professional photographers and camera operators will be permitted to enter the courtroom for a few minutes before the opening of the oral argument of each Party. They will be accompanied by members of the Information Department. Other media representatives will not have access to the courtroom.
3. Press room
The hearings will be transmitted live on a large screen in the two official languages of the Court, English and French, in a press room equipped with shared internet access (Wi-Fi and Ethernet). TV crews can connect to the Court’s PAL (HD and SD) and NTSC (SD) audiovisual system, and radio reporters to the audio system.
4. Multimedia
The hearings will be streamed live and on demand (VOD) in the two official languages of the Court on the Court’s website and on UN Web TV. High-resolution video clips and still photos produced by the Registry during the hearings will be available free of charge and free of copyright for editorial, non-commercial use, on the Court’s website (to download, click on Multimedia) and X (formerly Twitter) feed (@CIJ_ICJ).
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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, 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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Information Department:
Ms Monique Legerman, First Secretary of the Court, Head of Department: +31 (0)70 302 2336
Ms Joanne Moore, Information Officer: +31 (0)70 302 2337
Mr Avo Sevag Garabet, Associate Information Officer: +31 (0)70 302 2394
Email: [email protected]