FIRST ROUND OF WRITTEN PLEADINGS FILED IN M/V "SAIGA" (No. 2) CASE - AFTER EXTENSION OF TIME LIMIT FOR COUNTER-MEMORIAL -

HAMBURG, 19 October. The first round of written pleadings on the merits (the substance) of the M/V "Saiga" (No. 2) case was completed with the filing of the Counter-Memorial of Guinea with the Registrar of the Tribunal, on Friday evening, 16 October 1998. Saint Vincent and the Grenadines had earlier submitted its Memorial on 19 June 1998 in compliance with the time-limit established by the Tribunal.

On 8 September 1998, Guinea requested an extension of the time-limit for the filing of the Counter-Memorial, which was originally fixed for 18 September 1998. The President of the Tribunal, Thomas A. Mensah, on 16 September 1998, after consulting with the parties, issued an Order extending the time-limit for the filing of the Counter-Memorial by four weeks to 16 October 1998.

The time-limits for the filing of the written pleadings in the case had initially been set by Order of the Tribunal of 23 February 1998. This Order took into account the wishes of the parties and was intended to bring about expeditious proceedings, while allowing adequate time to each Government to present its case.