4 public hearing in order to hear the statement of Jorge A. Caride, expert witness proposed by the representative, as well as the closing written arguments on the merits and possible reparations and costs in the instant case. 11. On January 22, 2007, the representative requested “that the […] testimony of Mr. Bueno-Alves [be] considered rendered,” since the “issues” on which he was going to testify “had already been addressed by the expert witnesses” who had carried out the medical and psychiatric examinations (infra para. 10).6 The testimony of Mr. Bueno-Alves was not submitted to the Court. 12. On January 25, 2007, the representative requested the Court to “authorize that the expert [r]eport [of Jorge A. Caride] be given before a notary public (affidavit),” as it was not possible “to afford the expenses of [his] attendance […] at the [p]ublic [h]earing.” Likewise, she requested that she be excused from attending the public hearing.7 13. On February 1, 2007, the President excused the representative as requested and pointed out that after the public hearing she would be entitled to “take up the proceedings at [any] stage,” as set forth in Article 27(2) of the Court’s Rules of Procedure. 14. The public hearing was held on February 2, 2007, during the 74th Regular Session of the Court.8 15. On February 16, 2007, the Secretariat, on instructions from the President and pursuant to Article 45(2) of the Rules of Procedure, requested the representative and the State to provide certain information and documents as evidence to facilitate the adjudication of the case, which were submitted within the period set for that purpose. 16. On March 7, 2007, the State forwarded its closing written arguments, while the Commission and the representative filed theirs on March 9, 2007. IV PROVISIONAL MEASURES 17. On January 22, 2007, the representative requested the Court to adopt provisional measures, given the alleged “situation of fear, ten[s]ion, anguish, and uncertainty [caused by the] harassment [to] which [they] we[re] subjected by the State.”9 6 Cf. Brief of January 22, 2007 submitted by the representative (record on the merits, Volume III, folio 1009). 7 Cf. Brief of January 22, 2007 submitted by the representative (record on the merits, Volume III, folio 1032). 8 At this public hearing there appeared: a) for the Inter-American Commission: Florentín Meléndez, Delegate; Elizabeth Abi-Mershed, Juan Pablo Albán, and Lilly Ching, advisors; and b) for the State: Jorge Nelson Cardozo, Agent; Javier Salgado, Deputy Agent; Gonzalo Bueno, Attorney for the Special Representation for Human Rights of the International Affairs Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Andrea Gualde, Director of the Office of International Affairs of the National Secretariat of Human Rights; Ana Badillos and Rosana Gargiulo, from the Office of International Affairs of the National Secretariat of Human Rights; Juan José Arcuri, Argentine Ambassador in Costa Rica; and Gustavo Alfredo Arambarri, Advisor to the Argentine Embassy in Costa Rica. 9 1009). Cf. Brief of January 22, 2007 submitted by the representative (record on the merits, Volume III, folio