CONSIDERING:

(A) The notice for the Preparatory Conference to be held at the premises of the World Bank (International Centre for the Settlement of Investment Disputes - ICSID) in Washington DC on 26 August 2010 at 3:30pm, sent to the Parties on 26 July 2010, with reminders sent to the Parties on 4 and 23 August 2010;

(B) The draft Agenda for the Preparatory Conference regarding the conduct of the present arbitral proceedings sent to the Parties on 26 July 2010;

(C) The comments by Claimant on the draft Agenda in its communications of 10, 23 and 24 August 2010;

(D) The lack of comments by Respondent on the draft Agenda and, more generally, the absence of any communication from Respondent to the Tribunal regarding the present arbitral proceedings;

(E) The Preparatory Conference held at the premises of the World Bank in Washington DC on 26 August 2010 at 3:30pm, an audio recording of which has been made available to the Parties;

(F) Respondent’s failure to appear at the Preparatory Conference referred to in Recital (E) above;