The Hague International Court of Justice announced yesterday that the Romanian vs. Ukraine lawsuit on the delimitation of the Black Sea plateaus was ready to proceed to the oral pleading. Kiev authorities are planning to complete the works on Snakes Island by August 20, right before a new stage in the Hague trial and the national day of the ex Soviet republic.
The oral pleas are due in September 2-19 in the Peace Palace in Hague, It is the ninth stage in a trial that has been on for almost four years now and so far only written documentation has been used. After this stage is over, the Court is to deliberate and reach a final verdict to be obeyed by both sides. The verdict is due next spring the latest. (M.I.)