HEARINGS ON THE REQUEST FOR PROVISIONAL MEASURES IN RESPECT OF THE M/V “SAIGA” TO BE HELD ON 23 AND 24 FEBRUARY

HAMBURG, 19 February. Public sittings in the case concerning the request for the prescription of provisional measures (Saint Vincent and the Grenadines v. Guinea) will open at 10.00 a.m. on Monday, 23 February 1998. The hearings will be held in the Great Hall of the City Hall of Hamburg. The hearings on Monday are expected to last until 6.00 p.m. A second round of hearings is scheduled for Tuesday, 24 February, starting at 2.00 p.m. until 6.00 p.m. In each round, the Tribunal will hear Saint Vincent and the Grenadines first followed by Guinea.

The Request is for Guinea not to interfere with the freedom of navigation and related rights of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. It further requests that Guinea immediately comply with the Judgment of the Tribunal of 4 December 1997, in the M/V "SAIGA" case. In a reply filed on 13 February 1998, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines revised its request to include a prohibition for Guinea to undertake hot pursuit of vessels other than as authorized under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.