And so with Guatemala now added to this case - it's one more development that will further slow down the pace of the already delayed hearing. Courtenay says there has been some frustration with the timeline:
Eamon Courtenay, Responsibility for Belize's 2 Cases Before the ICJ
"To be very frank, we have been very disappointed at the pace at which the court has handled this matter. And, we have been in communication with the court, indicating that - in diplomatic language - of concern about the delay. And I think that it is because of our constant contact with the court that we have finally gotten a date for this matter to be heard."
"So we anticipated that Guatemala was going to want to join, and we realized that it could cause some delay. We did not expect the delay to be this long, but I don't think that there was a legal prejudice as a result of the delay."
Jules Vasquez
"In May the Prime Minister said that he expects that the ICJ decision, the final decision he expects will be in during this second term of office."
"Is that a realistic expectation?"
Eamon Courtenay
"I think it is very realistic. I think, just about all the emergency cases Ukraine, Russia - Ukraine, Gaza, the Middle East, Israel, Palestine and some climate advisory opinions - most of those have been argued and are off the docket of the court, the emergency hearings."
"We know, for example, that there is one specific case that was filed after ours and has already been heard and a judgment given. So our expectation, we have no intelligence, as to the order in which a court will hear the cases - but looking at the cases that are pending and looking at the calendar, we anticipate that we will argue and receive a judgment within the second term of the current government."
