Rule 7: Effect of the Arbitration Agreement (1) Where the parties have agreed to submit to arbitration under these Rules, they shall be deemed to have submitted ipso facto to the Rules in effect on the date of the commencement of the arbitration proceedings, unless they have agreed to submit to the Rules in effect on the date of their arbitration agreement. (2) If the Respondent does not file a Statement of Defence, as provided by Rule 5, or if any party raises any plea concerning the existence, validity or scope of the arbitration agreement, the Tribunal may decide, without prejudice to the admissibility or merits of the plea, that the arbitration shall proceed if the Tribunal is prima facie satisfied that an arbitration agreement under the Rules may exist. PART II – COMPOSITION AND PROCESS OF THE TRIBUNAL Rule 8: Appointment of Arbitrators (1) The appointing authority shall appoint, from among the Judges of the Court a panel to constitute the Tribunal to conduct the arbitral proceedings, unless the parties have agreed on a Sole Arbitrator who, in the like manner, shall be appointed from among the Judges of the Court. (2) The Chairman of the Tribunal shall be appointed by the appointing authority from among the Judges constituting the Tribunal. (3) In making the appointment, the appointing authority shall have due regard to the necessity to secure the appointment of independent and impartial arbitrators. Rule 9: Further Written Statements:(1) The Tribunal shall decide which further written statements, in addition to the statement of claim and the statement of defence, shall be required from the parties or may be presented by them. The Tribunal shall fix the periods of time for communicating such statements. (2) The time fixed by the Tribunal for the communication of written statements (including the statement of claim and statement of defence) shall not exceed 30 days. However, the Tribunal may for sufficient cause extend the time-limit. 5