Separation wall/ICJ proceedings – Accreditation proceedings – ICJ Press release

Legal Consequences of the Construction of a Wall in the Occupied Palestinian Territory
(request for advisory opinion)

Accreditation procedure for the public hearings opening
on Monday 23 February 2004

PRESS

Access badges

    THE HAGUE, 16 February 2004. In connection with the accreditation procedure established for media representatives who have applied for access to the International Court of Justice press centre for the public hearings in the case concerning the Legal Consequences of the Construction of a Wall in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (request for advisory opinion), the Court's Information Department has the following information to communicate.

    Media representatives wishing to cover the public hearings who have submitted an application form for accreditation fully completed in typescript, by facsimile and by the stated deadline, are kindly requested to present themselves on Sunday 22 February at the Peace Palace (Carnegieplein 2, The Hague, Netherlands) between 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. in order to obtain their personal access badge. This will guarantee them rapid access to the press room on Monday 23 February 2004, when the hearings open. It will also be possible to obtain badges on Monday 23 February 2004 from 8 a.m. onwards, but press members are strongly advised to do so on Sunday because of the exceptionally high numbers excepted at the Palace.

    Photographers accredited to join the pool authorized to take pictures at the opening of the hearings (for 20 minutes, on 23 February 2004 only) will receive a separate badge, which will also be given out on Sunday 22 and Monday 23 February.

    Representatives of the Hague Hospitality Centre will be available on Sunday 22 and Monday 23 February 2004 to deal with queries from press representatives seeking accommodation in The Hague and other practical matters.

Important reminders

    Media representatives are reminded that they must carry a passport or identity card, their press card and the original of their completed application form.

    Media representatives unable to satisfy these requirements will not be given an access badge. Representatives are further reminded that accreditation badges will remain valid throughout the hearings and cannot be replaced if lost.

Scheduling

    In order to give themselves enough time to access the Peace Palace site, media representatives are advised that they may present themselves at the Palace gates from 8 a.m.

Parking

    As previously indicated (see Press Communiqué 2004/6), parking within the Peace Palace site will not be permitted. Vehicles should be left in parking spaces (generally metered) in neighbouring streets.

    Only vehicles with satellite antennae for live broadcasting or heavy equipment who have received special authorization may enter the site, or park in the special reserved spaces in front of the Palace gates.

    Media representatives are reminded that the Eurovision division of the Netherlands public broadcasting service (NOS) will be present at the Peace Palace at least on Monday 23 February 2004 to provide technical assistance to foreign television crews who have asked in advance for this. The Eurovision division may be reached at: +31 35 677 36 04 or +31 35 677 32 98 (telephone), +31 35 677 51 05 (fax), or at eurovisie@rtv.nos.nl (e-mail).)

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Mr. Arthur Witteveen, First Secretary of the Court (tel.: + 31 70 302 23 36) and Mrs. Laurence Blairon and Mr. Boris Heim, Press Officers, will be available to the press for all further information (tel.: + 31 70 302 23 37; e-mail: information@icj-cij.org).

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