The International Court of Justice

The International Court of Justice …(1) the principal judicial organ of the United Nations. …(2) seat is at the Peace Palace in the Hague.

It …(3) work in 1946, when it replaced the Permanent Court of International Justice which …(4)in the Peace Palace since 1922. It …(5) under a Statute largely similar to that of its predecessor (попередник), which is an integral part of the Charter of the United Nations. The Court …(6) a dual role: to settle in accordance with international law the legal disputes submitted to it by States, and …(7) advisory opinions on legal questions referred to it by authorized international organs and agencies.

The Court …(8) of 15 judges elected to nine-year terms of office by the United Nations General Assembly and Security Council sitting independently of each other. It …(9) include more then one judge of any nationality. Elections …(10) every three years for one-third of the seats, and retiring judges may be re-elected. The Members of the Court …(11) represent their governments but are independent magistrates. Only States …(12) and appear before the Court.