HAMBURG, 26 August. On Friday, 20 August 1999, the hearings closed in the Southern Bluefin Tuna Cases (Requests for provisional measures) concerning the conservation and optimum utilization of Southern Bluefin Tuna. Australia, New Zealand and Japan maintained that their relations were multifaceted and strong and would not be affected by the current dispute. The hearings came to an end with the Agents of the parties reading their final submissions in open court. The President of the Tribunal thanked the representatives of the parties for their presentations and announced that the Tribunal had tentatively set the date for the delivery of its decision for 27 August 1999. He asked the Agents to remain at the disposal of the Tribunal while the Tribunal continued its deliberations.