On 16th December 2003, the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (“ICSID” or “the Centre”) received from Telenor Mobile Communications AS (“Telenor” or the “Claimant”), a company established under the laws of the Kingdom of Norway, a Request for Arbitration of 11th December 2003 against the Republic of Hungary (“Hungary” or the “Respondent”) pursuant to a bilateral investment treaty (“BIT”) between Norway and Hungary. On 13th January 2004. upon receipt of the prescribed lodging fee, the Centre, in accordance with Rule 5 of the ICSID Rules of Procedure for the Institution of Conciliation and Arbitration Proceedings (“the Institution Rules”) acknowledged receipt of the request and on the same day transmitted a copy to the Republic of Hungary and to its Embassy in Washington, D.C. In letters dated 1st and 17th June 2004 the Centre requested clarification by Telenor that the dispute involved matters relating to expropriation.