4. Declares that, in the circumstances of the case, the objection to the admissibility of the application on the grounds of failure to exhaust local remedies is not an exclusively preliminary objection and joins the said objection to the substantive case; 5. Overrules the objection to the admissibility of the application on the grounds of failure to observe reasonable time in the submission of the application to the Court; 6. Decides to consider the merits of the matter; 7. Directs the Respondent to submit to the Court its response on the merits of the case within 30 days of the date of this Ruling; and further directs the Applicants to submit to the Court their briefs on the merits of the case within 30 days from the date of receipt of the response of the Respondent State". 33. By letters dated 3 July 2013 addressed to the parties, the Registrar served them with a copy of the 21 June 2013 Ruling on the preliminary objections, and informed them that the Public Hearing on the merits of the case would take place on 19 and 20 September 2013 at the Seat of the Court in Arusha. 34. By letter dated 19 July 2013, the Respondent submitted to the Registrar, two copies of its briefs in response, pursuant to the provisions of the 21 June 2013 Ruling of the Court. 35. By letter dated 30 July 2013, the Registrar notified the Applicants of the above mentioned response of the Respondent State, and invited them to submit their reply, if need be, within thirty days from the date of receipt of the notice. 36. By letter dated 27 August 2013 addressed to the Registrar, the Applicants requested an extension of the deadline by thirty days, to enable them collect all the evidence which they would like to annex in support of their reply. 37. By letter dated 3 September 2013, the Registrar informed the Applicants that the Court had decided to extend the deadline for submission of their reply by thirty days effective from 6 September 2013, and that the Public Hearing had therefore been deferred to a date to be announced. 12 £. D·