9 18. On November 24, 2001 the Court asked the parties to submit their arguments regarding possible reparations, based on the principle of judicial economy and on Articles 31 and 44 of the Rules of Procedure of the Court. On December 20, 2001 the Commission requested an extension of the deadline to submit its arguments and evidence on possible reparations, in view of the situation in that country. An extension was granted until January 4, 2002 and the Commission submitted the document on that date. The State sent its observations and evidence regarding possible reparations on February 7, 2002. 19. On January 15, 2002 the Commission, after consulting with the State, requested postponement of the public hearing, in view of the circumstances in Argentina. The following day, the Secretariat informed the parties that the President had granted that request. 20. On April 18, 2002 the Commission reported that the criminal action in which the unlawful imprisonment of Walter David Bulacio was being investigated would be extinguished on May 16 of that year. On April 22, 2002 the President asked the State for its comments on that matter and these were submitted a week later, stating that there could be no extinguishment. On June 3, 2002 the State sent a copy of the judicial action by means of which the aforementioned case was activated. 21. On June 19, 2002 the Secretariat asked the State and the Commission to send the definitive list of witnesses and expert witnesses, whose statements and expert opinions they would propose at a future public hearing on the merits and possible reparations in the instant case. In its July 3, 2002 brief, the Commission reported that steps were being taken to reach a friendly settlement. On November 20, 2002 the Secretariat once again asked the State and the Commission to send the definitive list of witnesses and expert witnesses. On November 26, 2002 the State reported that the parties were taking steps to attain a friendly settlement, and it therefore requested that the scheduled public hearing be suspended. At that same date, the President ordered the Commission to send its observations regarding the petition by the State. On December 11, 2002 the Commission stated to the Court that it did not deem it appropriate at the time to suspend the public hearing. The following day, the Secretariat reiterated its request for the definitive lists of witnesses and expert witnesses offered by the parties. On the 16th, 18th and 20th of that month, respectively, the Commission and the State submitted the information requested. 22. In his December 20, 2002 Order, the President summoned the Inter-American Commission and the State to a public hearing to be held at the seat of the Court, commencing on March 6, 2003, with the aim of hearing the testimony of the witnesses and expert witnesses offered by the parties and their final verbal arguments. The written expert opinions of expert witnesses Osvaldo Héctor Curci and Osvaldo Hugo Raffo, offered by the State, were also admitted. Finally, the parties were informed that they could submit their final written arguments. 23. On January 23, 2003 the State forwarded the sworn testimony of the two expert witnesses offered (supra 22). On February 7, the Commission sent its comments on said testimony. 24. On February 5, 2003 the State sent a copy of Decree No. 161/2003, in which the President of the Republic of Argentina ordered the Procuración del Tesoro de la Nación to reach a friendly settlement in the instant case. The following day, the