Argentina warns UK company over involvement in Falklands’ oil production
Argentina will take legal actions against Britain's Premier Oil after the company agreed to invest 1 billion dollars to help develop an oil field off the disputed Falkland Islands, Argentina's Foreign Ministry said on Monday.
Last week, Premier said it would partner with Rockhopper Exploration, a company that discovered oil north of the Falklands in 2010, paying an initial 231 million dollars in cash and providing around 770 million dollars to help build infrastructure to secure a 60% stake in the Sea Lion field where the strike took place.
Argentina told Premier it had taken legal action against “clandestine” Rockhopper's “illegal” oil exploration activities on the “Argentine continental shelf.”
“Likewise, the Argentine government informed Premier Oil that the government ... will initiate administrative, civil and penal action against it with regard to these activities,” a statement by the Foreign Ministry said.
In March, Argentina vowed to take oil firms active in the Falklands, and other companies providing support and services to them, to the local courts for what it sees as illicit drilling in disputed territory.
A copy of the letter addressed to Premier Oil was delivered to the British embassy in Buenos Aires. In the letter the Argentine Foreign ministry indicates that similar actions have been started against Argos Resources LTD, Falkland Oil and Gas Limited (FOGL), Borders & Southern Petroleum PLC and Desire Petroleum PLC, also involved in “illicit” hydrocarbons activities in the South Atlantic
The Foreign ministry also points out to Premier that as with the other “clandestine” companies, the illicit activities will be reported to the stock exchanges of New York and London and requests that the regulatory bodies inform that these companies have been omitting information or providing erroneous data to markets.
Finally a copy of the letter will also be distributed among country members of Mercosur, Unasur, Celac and the Argentine courts, concludes the Argentine release.
Last week, Premier's Finance director, Tony Durrant, played down the risks.
“I don't want to sound flippant, but the oil industry deals with this type of political risk, of border disputes, of disputed territories all around the world, frankly” Durrant said quoted by Reuters.
Likewise when the deal was announced a Foreign Office spokesperson gave its full support to the company and to the Falklands right to develop its own oil and gas industry.
“We have been unequivocal in our support for the people of the Falkland Islands as they seek to expand their economy. This [drilling] is a core principle of self-determination, and one which we are determined to uphold”, said the spokesperson.
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Who cares what some worthless tin pot government thinks? Seems no oil companies do........
@shb - Don't be silly the Argentine military forces are like a bad attempt at mimicking dad's army!
What is Argentina going to do? Cry? Stamp it's foot? Steal another foreign owned company?
Nope they're gonna do nothing because they haven't got legal authority over the Falklands. Never have, never will.
Impotent Argentina.
Foolish Argentina.
Corrupt Argentina.
Destitute Argentina.
I think this the deadline from May. I'm still waiting for the flurry of “Cease and desist” wits to come flying our way. I'm still waiting to be awed by the finality of Argentina's legal action against all of those who are “Plundering” Argentina's hydrocarbons.
I hope it happens soon, I can't wait. I'm sitting here beside myself as it is........
By the way, Premier Oil up 1% on the news.
The only sanction is that these companies will have to avoid investing anything in Argentina - what a terrible problem to have to live with!
Is this not the first indication of where argieland plans to take its “legal action”? “the local courts” are presumably argie courts. And what good do they think that will do? Scenario: argie government files case. Although there is no evidence that any “respondent” has received any court papers. Company writes to court. “The territory is not disputed by Britain. You have no jurisdiction.” Alternative: “As you allege that the territory concerned is ”disputed“, the ”dispute“ must first be resolved before you consider whether you have any right to jurisdiction.”
Now, if an argie court holds a hearing and finds in favour of the argie government, the judgement has no effect because jurisdiction has not been agreed. Much like argieland refuses to accept the jurisdiction of the ICJ. This should be hilarious!!
Is this proof that CFK's grip on the country is slipping like that on her sanity?
These tactics can have no effect on those with no interests inside Argentina.
Perhaps Premier Oil should remind the Argentine government of this in its reply.
All words and no actions Marcos, May was a season ago and we have had bugger all from your ruling regime.
We will do as we please and you have no power or influence to stop us :-)
CFK is impotent and poor souls like Marcos and Burger King feel that bad language and hot air from their government is a sign that they have metal.
2017 and first oil here we come.
You are wrong if an Arg court issues any international warrant they become fugitive from Arg. justice and can be caught in any country with extradition agreement with ARG. So lets say in EU, USA, Mercosur, etc.
An international arrest warrant will only be recognised if what is alleged is a crime in the country where the warrant is sent to.
They are also not recognised if the potential sentence would be punitative (such as the death sentence or out of proportion to the “offence”)
In this case the warrant will not be recognised as entering into a commercial contract with the agreement of the government of both the country and its protecting power is and never has been a crime unless of course there are international sanctions imposed by the UN which there are not.
But no country would extradite someone over this as Argentina has NO authority or jurisdiction over the Falklands. So therefore no laws broken. None, not even Argentine law.
Poor impotent Dany, who comes from a poor impotent country, who doesn't understand international law.
If Argentina tries to issue international arrest warrants in this instance, they will be laughed at by the international community. Maybe you are immune to this laughter now, after all your government has been making fools of you all for years now.
So they are going to report the drilling to the Stock exchanges of USA and UK?
This isn't a threat, it's a comedy show.
This is a desperate ploy to make everyone on the oil rigs, FI and UK armed forces on the FI laugh themselves to death so Argentina can walk in unopposed while everyone writhes helplessly mortally wounded with humour.
So the British stock exchange is going to take any notice of an Argentine complaint based on a load of bollox that has got no legal justification?
Even lefty Obama is making sure that the World Bank does not loan money to Argentina as it refuses to pay off debts, so any lectures involving anything to do with money and legality are going to be met with total derision by the rest of the world. I understand that YPF were trying to raise money/support in the USA recently, and got laughed at.
@20
This depends on whether the country these so called fugitives are caught in accepts Argentinas court ruling to be legal. And if any are kidnapped in SA and taken to Argentina you should take note that in Afghanistan and Iraq we brits are really good at rescuing hostages, as this is what international law would label them as.
Do you really think an RG court wants even a handful of H-Arsd SAS troopers breaking through and shooting the place to F***?
Because there is nothing you could do to stop them, ie remember Pebble Island 19/05/82, the finest commando raid in history?
My guess is one in a million, but if you want to be taken seriously on the international stage and as an investible country, an independent judiciary is one of the basic requirements.
Has there been no news about how the earlier threats are getting along within the system?
Specifically the Argentine government says that the oil companies are operating in Argentine waters without a permit. They are ignoring the Falklands and its permits because they claim the Falklands don't exist as an external territory. Whereas, whether or not you support the Argentine claim on the islands, you would have to accept that as things stand the Falklands are a British Overseas Territory. The Argentinian legal case is therefore based on wishful thinking rather than the law as a court would understand it. A truly independent judiciary would find the Arg government action very difficult to support, I would expect.
That's why overseas investors would and should worry about Argentina. If CFK wants it seems she can just move the goalposts, change the law or whatever to suit herself and whatever hare-brained scheme she comes up with next.
This will not stop Argentina justice to prosecute all them and if they don’t comply with the requirement of Arg. Justice like to attend the court they will be declare in “rebelliousness” so the court can issue a international arrest warrant. In the case that executive UK govt. desire to protect them may be UK justice desire the contrary, but as in UK there is not real separation of power I guess that they will prevail.
But the offenders could not put a foot in any other country without risking to be caught by Interpol.
About if is a crime in the country host of the warrant.
1- Case “Richard O'Dwyer” British citizen was found not guilty over infringement of copyright material in UK (was not a crime in UK). But a US court desired the contrary and he is extradited to face charges in US.
“O’Dwyer’s TVShack website, while not in violation of any UK laws where he lived and operated it, infringed on American copyright legislation “
2- “In this case the warrant will not be recognised as entering into a commercial contract with the agreement of the government of both the country”
Doesn’t matter is what Arg. Justice ruled out and if they say is a crime so in the area of influence of Arg. justice (all countries signed EA) will be forced to comply with Argentina.
@ LEPRecon
As you always wrong, I can sue you in Argentina and even you are not here if the court take ma case I can make extradite you from Iran of course Iran can refuse like in the case of the terrorist attack in Arg. But you cannot put a foot outside of the country that protects you.
You must comply with the court if not you become a refugee in some little island.
@ Pete Bog
Yeah in the movies I would like to see that really.
Local courts are for local people theres nothing they can do here.
You are either a manic depressive, an Argentinian muppet or both.
28
You seem to have an over inflated sense of Argentina's standing in the World although you did forget North Korea and Cuba.
To all Argentine Muppets -
Relax, the oil exploration has only just begun. If you get this over excited about a few drill holes and share deals, think what its gonna be like when the black oozy stuff starts coming to the surface and shipped out. Argentina better have a good health service.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=vuhxZKPv8yc
It sounds like a badge of honour - and fun.
Argentina on the other hand has zero world standing , a corrupt state owned media, plus questionable legal system...its similar to Iran threatening legal action or North Korea, file in bin.
Oh my goodness. Imagine if Argentina were to pass a law making it illegal to take the mickey out of Malvinistas on the Internet. Would the international community then be obliged to extradite all the guilty miscreants?
Criminal copyright infringment is a crime in the UK but with a maximum prison term of 6 months.
This is mostly used to prosecute persons who sell fake goods
In the case of Richard O'Dwyer the argument is that the USA regime is punative and hence he should be tried in the UK. Personally I hope he does as the UK /USA extradition treaty goes too far and should be scrapped and renegotiated.
Love it and the programme.
Stop spitting your dummy out CFK, it's our country, our land, our oil, we will sell it to whomever we like. And we are most certainly never, ever, going to give into your colonialist bullying.
The only country currently loosing foreign investment is Argentina, the Falklands are thriving and attracting huge intrest in THEIR resources, while Argentine is being forced to sell out to China.
@28 Funny little boy. Apart from the ridiculousness of your first paragraph, you do realise that Interpol cannot arrest anyone anywhere, don't you? Just admit that you know nothing about the law. And did you know that no-one can be extradited for a civil matter? Sue all you like. Only one place you can “enforce” an argie civil judgement. Argieland. Ask your mummy when you get home from school.
You got to love the double-standard (for the umpteenth time): Argentine courts have no jurisdiction outside Argentina, so no one is violating laws. Argentina violates laws when not obeying the dictums of foreign courts.
LOL, that is what we call utter moral turpitude.
So based on your analogy, whose benefit is this being done for? A domestic audience?
At this pace, we will not need lawyers.................:
BOR down 11.11% to 16.00 pennies
RKH down 11.56% to 197.00 pennies
FOGL down 5.66% to 75.00 pennies
If you knew anything about contracts, you would know that they typically contain a clause stating the jurisdiction under which disputes are to be settled. If Argentina is refusing to respect the judgements of jurisdictions to which it has legally committed itself, then you don't have to hunt very far to find where the hypocrite is.
And of course, needless to say, nobody in their right mind has accepted the jurisdiction of Argentine courts in respect of hydrocarbon or other rights in UK waters.
Think, what happens when the peso is $7/1 ( it's closer to 7 then 6 now) to the price of nat gas or medicine?
Do you remember posting the nonsense about them stopping it in the high 5s..I seem to remember saying that wouldn't work. Care to say which of us was correct?
Have they shut down dialysis all over the country yet?
You are cookoo. Argentina has an obligation to subject itself to foreign courts?
Get out of here, arrogant.
Try reading what I said again.
Not if other countries disregard it, of which yours is an ever-citable example.
@46 At your pace, WE could bury the lot of you and you wouldn't notice. There's an idea!
@51 No. The contract will specify that it is to be interpreted in accordance with English law.
@53 Doesn't matter. Your corrupt judicial “system” has no jurisdiction.
BTW Did Angola and/or Azerbaijan pick up all the lost wine sales to the USA?
loan have it both ways my humiliated rg chums
Which we summarily disregard as no one trust a UK court, much less could an Argentine ever trust a UK court.
@57
It seem so, as production has not dipped one bit. Nothing on the news about any wine glut. Good times.
@58
Not pick and choose, we simply do not bow to your courts, or any court outside Argentina, end of story. If you don't like it, do something about it.
LOL.
Buying and trading oportunity this presents. Not for me however as I am on holiday in three days :-) More important things than money. But imagine if the Darwin results come in good. In the future my chosen airline may be filling the tank up with products from the condensate in Darwin :-)
This comes from a country that was soundly beaten on the field of conflict, so excuse me if the uk doesn't get to frightened by your fake macho ratings. Do as your soldiers did and rUn away like frightened children
Cameron crying about Argie protectionism, in the USA, in the G20, in a meeting with Rajoy, in an EU gathering, in the House of Commons... crying all over the planet about it, what has he done? NOTHING. What has Europe or the USA done after 10 years of supposed reneged “debt” arrears? Too chicken. What has China or Brazil done about trade restrictions (real MANLY action, not the petty threats both countries have given).
For how long have we seen the world complain about Argieland... what have you done??? LOL. I'm quaking I tell you.
Tangent drawing = no argument left.
dont you know the meaning of garrymander as English ?
garrymander = rigging ( hanky-panky)
These are the kind of attitudes even toddlers learn are ineffective in the long run.
More hot air from CFK, nothing more.
The real question is,
Can she, or cant she,
Apparently, inside Argentina, she cant have you all put up against a wall, and tickled to death,
[You thought I was going to say ??]
But out side of argentine influence, she has no more enforceable, power than the pilchard islands,
She has no way to enforce, nothing,
[except]
Collaboration secondary back up,
Now then,,
If she could persuade the rest of south America, to enforce argentine law, you might have a headache, and she will have nightmares,
Truth is mates,
CFK can do nothing, out side of argentine territory,
And that is a fact , a very true fact,
Unless ?????????????
We leave this bit to the clever intelligent Argies, as they will no doubt tell us all otherwise lol.
Just a tickle.
.
Back to the sheeps islanders!
I thought we were going to be dragged to court back in May?
I think you mean gerrymander
Britain is not blind to the antics of the tantrum child but when you're dealing with a child you have to use kid gloves and CFK is no adult.
Argentina is breaking its own constitution in meddling with the affairs of the islanders wether it be drilling for oil or flights to neighbouring countries. It specifically states that argentina should respect the way of life of the islanders. So, if they want to wear hats fashioned from whiffy fish entrails or drive on the correct side of the road or drill for oil then Argentina should respect this. The constitution states:
“respectful of the way of life of their inhabitants and according to the principles of international law”
The islanders break no international laws and they do not seek to meddle in the lives of argentinians. The same cannot be said for argentina. :-(
Ok, I am sending down a few nuclear and a couple of new frigates to do something about it. First hit will be your home because my intelligence service has pinpointed where you live and second hit will be Christian's pad, third hit will be your justice system, fourth hit will be!!!!!! Oh never mind after the first hit your country held its hands up and surrendered did not need to do the other three but I just wanted to see you all squirm.
Call me Dave.
Well you did say do something about it, so I am
www.economist.com/blogs/graphicdetail/2012/07/daily-chart-11
You lazy wastrels.
New Frigates? They don't come until 2020 to replace the type 23's. Please drop the whole Cameron thing it isn't funny or remotely clever.
For if that someone ignores you,
And you fail to back it up,
Then you have just made your self look stupid very and weak, in the eyes of the world,
Let alone your own people.
.
“This will not stop Argentina justice to prosecute all them and if they don’t comply with the requirement of Arg. Justice like to attend the court they will be declare in “rebelliousness” so the court can issue a international arrest warrant. ... But the offenders could not put a foot in any other country without risking to be caught by Interpol.”
Pure rubbish, same as the case you refer to has no bearing on the Falklands issue.
If you were right, Britain could pass a law making it illegal to refer to the Falkland Islands as “Malvinas” and issue a international arrest warrant for all Argentinos who use that expression. The offenders could not put a foot in any other country without risking to be caught by Interpol.
Malvinas and??????????????????????
extradite all of us to argieland,
50 million brits under arrest, and having fun in argentina,
wonderfull fun,
but not for you lot,
you will have to pay for it,
dreams are made good things,
malvinas just dont exist .
David Cameron is one of the better spoof posters. Why not direct your ire at British Kirchnerist instead?
to inforce her will,
if indeed she can find the fleet.
There is no such name as the Malvinas.
Otherwise the democratically elected government of the Falklands would be called the M-I-G.
I could call the islands Diddledeeland, Hawkens Maidenland, Scraggpaddockpointaria, Albatrosstina Tussacgrassaria, Wokkawokkanada, Wheniwasistan, all of them like the Malvinas, complete and utter nonsense because the people who live there recognise them as, the Falkland Islands.
There are no 'Malvinas' signs on the Islands, which is the biggest and most obvious giveaway.
To call the Islands the Malvinas, the Argentines will have to prove with history that cannot be disputed, and that according to international law without any shadow of a doubt, the Falklands belong to them.
They cannot.
Every Malvinista that has tried to argue the Argentinian case on these posts including the spirited and well argued case of the guy that says that the UK only own Port Egmont, has failed to answer the counter arguments deployed by the pro-Falklands side. Even that guy came unstuck because if the UK only owned Port Egmont, therefore Spain only owned Port Louis, which killed off his argument about Spain owning the rest of the islands.
The other option is that the Argentines will have to invade the Islands against the Falkland Islander's will to impose this comic, ridiculous sounding name.
I mean, Malvinas, it sounds like a diseased vineyard.
The steep decline in the Argentine Peso continues. Shame.
We even put up a big sign to help the malvinistas: www.falklandislands.com/images/view/29/942.jpg
www.facebook.com/Britain1592
Thanks Alexei-I have copied that and will post it every time some prat calls the Falklands the Malvinas.
Good sign! It's a pity it's not 300 feet high with flashing lights!
All in all, this is a non-story, as the Argentine government remains completely impotent. All it has been able to do for the last 30 years is stamp its foot and cry. That doesn't impress anyone, and the companies will keep drilling, and then they'll reap the profits. And because of Argentine arrogance and pettiness by uni-laterally pulling out of agreements with the Falkland Islanders they will get nothing at all.
Added to this is the fact that the Argentine government has spent the last 12 months humiliating itself on the world stage, and this impotent threat is just one more way of embarrassing itself.
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