no_bear is correct; It is the "main trial" and his details on the jurisdiction part of the hearing is correct. Only where the panel believe that jurisdiction is a valid point to argue do they schedule an earlier hearing on that point alone. When they join it to the merits, you can be assured that they think that there is no obvious reason to question the jurisdiction. It is normal for Venezuela to first challenge the jurisdiction just as a delaying tactic.

It will almost certainly be the first line of defence for the Crystallex case as well. Watch the tribunal's response. If there is an initial hearing to determine jurisdiction then it means that there may possibly be a case for dismissal.

The GRZ hearing is scheduled to finish on Friday this week, and apparently it is on schedule. The hearings are conducted in private and are confidential, so there will be no official announcements until well after Friday 17th Feb.

Tribunals always take some time before they deliver their decisions, and there are provisions to allow appeals in most cases.