SECTION 19 — Establishing the facts of the case

19.1 The arbitrator shall proceed within as short a time as possible to establish the facts of the case by all appropriate means. After examining the written submissions of the parties and the documents filed by them, the arbitrator shall hear the parties together in person if so requested by any of the parties; failing such a request, the arbitrator may of his own motion decide to hear them. The parties may appear either in person or through their duly authorized representatives. They may be assisted by their counsel. The arbitrator may decide if he deems necessary to hear the parties separately. In this case, the hearing of each party shall take place in the presence of counsel of both parties. The hearing of the parties shall take place on a day and at a place to be determined by the arbitrator. If any of the parties duly summoned, fails to appear, the arbitrator, after establishing that the summons was properly served on him, shall, unless there is a good reason, nevertheless proceed to accomplish his mission, and the hearing shall be deemed to be after full hearing. A copy of the report on the hearing of the parties, duly signed shall be forwarded to the Secretary General of the Court. 19.2 The arbitrator may decide the case solely on the documents filed by the parties if the parties so request or accept. 19.3 The arbitrator may appoint one or more experts, define their terms of reference, receive their reports and hear them in the presence of the parties and their counsel. 19.4 The arbitrator shall be in charge of the hearing. The hearing shall be in the presence of the parties. v535 Except with the consent of the arbitrator and the parties, the hearing shall not be open to persons who are strangers to the proceedings.