As demands pile up, Venezuela requests to leave World Bank arbitration court
Venezuela’s government officially requested this week to leave the World Bank’s arbitration court as demands pile up from abroad for compensation following a decade of nationalizations under President Hugo Chavez.
The exit will help protect “national sovereignty,” the Foreign Ministry said in a statement. Among companies in dispute with Venezuela are Exxon Mobil Corp. and Owens-Illinois Inc., the world’s largest maker of glass containers.
Venezuela’s membership of the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes dates back to 1993, six years before Chavez pushed through a new constitution that said disputes should be settled in local courts, according to the ministry. Since then, Chavez has seized assets in the energy, mining and telecommunications industries.
“Venezuela had weak governments that decided to participate in the international arbitration court in the past after being forced by multinational companies,” the ministry said. “The government will continue to implement policies that defend national sovereignty and in particular issues related to strategic assets, offering fair compensation to individuals and companies, in agreement with local laws.”
Chavez said on Jan. 8 that Venezuela would pull out of the ICSID and not accept any of its rulings. The court is currently considering about 20 suits filed by companies against the government.
A separate court has awarded Exxon Mobil Corp. about 750 million dollars in compensation for assets seized in 2007, while the ICSID decision is still pending.
Chavez threatened to withdraw from ICSID as early as 2007. If he follows through this time, it’s unlikely to affect arbitrations already under way, said Michael Nolan, a partner in the Washington office of Milbank, Tweed, Hadley & McCloy.
“Chavez is not going to solve Venezuela’s very serious international legal problems with either speeches or even a formal denunciation of the ICSID convention” pointed out Nolan.
Venezuela Prosecutor General Carlos Escarra said on Jan. 16 that it may take as many as 15 years to renegotiate bilateral investment treaties before it can leave the arbitration court.
Venezuela has treaties with 24 countries that need to be amended or canceled before authorities can pull out of the Washington-based International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes, Escarra said.
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19 comments Feed
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Psychology defines verbal or written violence as:
“The inability of a person to respond logically to a subject to which he deeply or unconcsciously agree with...”
And it goes on to state:“ The reasons may vary from lack of information, knowledge or low I.Q figure.”
In your case I would say that the reasons for your post are all three.
Please do not hesitate to ask for explainations , if the diagnosis above prevents you from understanding my post.
Wangito, (not an Argentinian, nor an islander)
No I just think lortrash is an animal.......
Not Arg,not islander..what are you???
Argentina is also scared as it sees its dozy supporter falling into disaster.
Anyone noticed the United Kingdom ducking out of commitments? Cowardly Chavez. Cowardly Venezuela. Bigmouth Chavez. Cowardly Kirchner. Cowardly Argentina. Bigmouth Kirchner. Lying, criminal Argentina. www.malvinasonline.com.ar/index.php/derecho-internacional/articulos/25-falklands-or-malvinas-the-background-to-the-dispute.html
imbecile!
Who cares racist trash,good for nothing..cheetah
They owe about 20-30B in various unpaid debts and judgements and no one wants a payment plan or RG bonds in lieu of U$. They may be all be coming due soon...hard to pay with only 47B in reserves...panic panic panic...OMG why doesn't it rain! Please rain...dance dance dance...
Sure yankee.....You have said this for the last 5 years..I do not see any panic....
Much better than uk,for sure...keep dreaming....
If you live there and you don't see it you are either blind or stupid and I pity you.
he utters again
he utters again
britton,squeaks again....This is for normal,good income people,chimpton.....
Not for hooligans...
The gutters waiting, raciest hate monger
The gutters waiting, raciest hate monger
AHAHHAHAHAHAHAAHAH chipton!
You should become rich!!
A breed between a Chimp and a brit!
What you get?/ A CHIPTON!!
There is money to be made in Genetics...
HAppy new year guys!
the day malvinooos grows up, he will find, he has missed it all .
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