INTERNATIONAL COURT OF JUSTICE Peace Palace, Carnegieplein 2, 2517 KJ The Hague, Netherlands Tel.: +31 (0)70 302 2323 Fax: +31 (0)70 364 9928 Website: www.icj-cij.org Press Release Unofficial

No. 2008/16 11 June 2008

Working visit by Her Royal Highness Princess Astrid of Belgium to the International Court of Justice

THE HAGUE, 11 June 2008. Her Royal Highness Princess Astrid of Belgium paid a working visit today to the seat of the International Court of Justice (ICJ), the principal judicial organ of the United Nations, at the Peace Palace in The Hague.

The Princess was welcomed by the Registrar of the Court, Mr. Philippe Couvreur, a Belgian national, who introduced her to Belgian staff members of the Court’s Registry. She was subsequently received by the President of the Court, Judge Rosalyn Higgins, who introduced her to a number of her colleagues on the Bench and showed her the Court’s deliberation room.

Princess Astrid was accompanied by a party consisting of H.E. Mr. Luc Carbonez, Ambassador of Belgium to the Netherlands; H.E. Mr. Yves Haesendonck, Ambassador, Permanent Representative of Belgium to the International Organizations in The Hague; Mr. Paul Ponjaert, Honorary Ambassador and Counsellor to the Princess; and Ms Stéphanie Rutten, an expert in humanitarian law.

A luncheon was held in honour of the Princess in the Restaurant des Juges, attended by Members of the International Court of Justice and the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY), to which the Princess had paid a visit in the morning. After the luncheon, Princess Astrid was invited to sign the visitors’ book and was presented with a gift by the President of the Court.

The Princess then had a private discussion with the President and the Registrar concerning the recent activity of the Court and issues of international humanitarian law.

Following this discussion, the Registrar escorted the Princess on a tour of the principal features of the Peace Palace. In particular, he drew her attention to the bronze doors of the main entrance to the building, which were a gift from Belgium.

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Information Department:

Mrs. Laurence Blairon, Secretary of the Court, Head of Department (+31 (0)70 302 2336) Messrs. Boris Heim and Maxime Schouppe, Information Officers (+31 (0)70 302 2337) Ms Joanne Moore, Assistant Information Officer (+31 (0)70 302 2394)