Contacts with Ghana navy help restore water and power supply to ARA Libertad
Ghana port authorities, GPHA, on Wednesday re-established water and power supply to the Argentine Navy flagship ARA Libertad retained in Tema, according to naval sources from Buenos Aires.
“A maritime agent was authorized into the port to formalize the provision of water and the mounting of an electric generator next to the vessel in pier 11”, said Argentine sources putting an end to a week of frictions when the previous Wednesday Ghana port authorities tried to relocate the vessel to pier 6 and Argentine crew members lifted the plank and showed their rifles.
Following the incident GPHA officials said that the vessel would only be supplied once she is relocated in pier 6, according to a court order. In a congested port the frigate was occupying much needed space for merchant vessels.
However in practical terms the Argentine frigate never was exposed to a lack of water or power because it has sufficient reverses in its tanks as well as its own generators.
Apparently the reestablishment of the services was agreed following a camaraderie lunch between Captain Pablo Salonio and peers from the Ghana navy.
At the meeting “the good ‘tuning’ and corps spirit” according to Argentine sources enabled to unlock the situation.
Last Monday Argentine Defence minister Arturo Puricelli had advanced that the ‘camaraderie event’ was crucial for the return to a ‘spirit of peace’ given the previous week show of force.
He also revealed that following last Wednesday incident ‘contacts’ were established with Ghana Minister of Defence, Joseph Henry Smith requesting “he mediate before the Foreign ministry to suspend the actions initiated by GPHA officials in the port of Tema”.
The next steps to follow were addressed by President Cristina Fernandez at a meeting with Timerman, Puricelli and her closest aides Tuesday evening to decide on the Hamburg presentation. But nothing was said about sending a second crew to relieve those on duty in Ghana.
Likewise Buenos Aires reports also indicate that Brazil is called to play, or is already playing an important role in direct negotiations with Accra given the influence of that country in Africa with 35 embassies.
Brazilian Deputy Foreign minister Ruy Nogueira is currently in Buenos Aires for talks on trade and to discuss the frigate issue. From the very day, 2 October, when the vessel was impounded the Argentine ambassador in Nigeria and concurrent in Ghana Susana Pataro has been operating from the Brazilian embassy in Accra with all their logistics support.
“We are going to do our utmost because we are talking of two countries with which Brazil has close friendship links and we don’t want them to distance”, said a Brazilian diplomat quoted in the Buenos Aires media. Besides, Cristina Fernandez and Brazilian president Dilma Rousseff are scheduled to meet in Buenos Aires at the end of the month during the annual event of the Argentine Industrial Union.
Finally the Argentine navy in the event of the release of the vessel has yet to decide the course: directly to the home port of Puerto Belgrano or make intermediate calls in Cape Town, South Africa, Rio do Janeiro and Montevideo. All depends on bunkering.
Suggested Stories
-
May 24th 2013
As the US before IMF lines up behind Argentina in the litigation with hedge funds
-
May 24th 2013
Argentina raids factory of US investor head of a hedge fund litigating defaulted sovereign bonds
-
May 23rd 2013
Beware inflation: CFK announces “political groups” will keep track of prices in shops
-
May 23rd 2013
Cristina Fernandez administration limits overseas dollar extractions to a minimum
24 comments Feed
Note: Comments do not reflect MercoPress’ opinions. They are the personal view of our users. We wish to keep this as open and unregulated as possible. However, rude or foul language, discriminative comments (based on ethnicity, religion, gender, nationality, sexual orientation or the sort), spamming or any other offensive or inappropriate behaviour will not be tolerated. Please report any inadequate posts to the editor. Comments must be in English. Thank you.
Personally, I don't think it does the Ghanaians any favours to deny the Libertad's crew water. Power, however, isn't necessary for the maintenance of life, so could theoretically be cut.
Argentina should just move the ship, in line with the perfectly legal order given by the Ghanaian courts.
The longer they refuse, the more likely the Ghanaians will force the move, even if it means boarding the vessel. In that case any crew that tries to resist could be arrested for contempt of court.
The Argentinian's won't do themselves any favours if they let this get out of control, recent events have shown the underlying tension, even if this ‘camaraderie event’ was a success.
Just allow the move, and then everyone can see that they are being helpful. Start waving guns around again and far from being the victim Argentina will look like it is trying to bully and push people around again.
It's Alistar Darling!!!
Run away!!! Run away!!!
I suspect the Ghanians will turn up better prepared once they have authority from the court.
www.gregpalast.com/the-globalizer-who-came-in-from-the-cold/
I am as exiled from Argentina as the brits in Las Malvinas Argentina, they seem to think they can tell Argentina what to do but yet Latinos have no right to stand up for their beloved land. Read my words not likely. WE LOVE YOU CFK, KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK!
www.gregpalast.com/the-globalizer-who-came-in-from-the-cold/
you are so much fun, if you were older I would suggest a job as a stand-up comedian. Never mind how bad a day some one may have had - to come to MercoPress and read your comments has to make one laugh.
I don't live in fear. I travel the world and meet the most amazing people. I have to say, the only people I meet talking about conspiracy theories tend to have taken a few to many drugs. Which in your case would explain a lot.
Nov 16th, 2012 - 03:55 pm
It seems that Argentina learned that a little dialogue could do wonders, Ghana has no need to dialogue about anything!!!!!!
so shut up then!
This fund NML or Elliott Capital is acting from a British Overseas Territory (Cayman Islands) so UK should be responsibly for what is been doing in their the jurisdiction.
UK companies in Argentina should be advised that further action from NML capital will have major impact over their investment in Argentina. Prime target companies Shell, Unilever, Young and Rubicam, Metro Gas, Cadbury Argentina (bloody is not British any more), BP (oh f@ck is not British any more) BAE (F@ck again is not British at all).
Well really will be hard to find any British company even in the world because seems that Britain since 30 years ago had been sold out by the neocons Tories and Labour party.
Re thinking again I start to feel sorry about poor Britons because they had been depraved by all govts from everything that they use to be proud of.
So Let’s bomb Cayman Islands and make a charity fund to help poor Britons.
Did you contact the web site I gave you? let me know when you have a gig near Norwich, I'll come along and see you. Tell you what, get Jimmy Carr on the bill with you, sell out, no problem.
you know it,
we know it,
they know.
Commenting for this story is now closed.
If you have a Facebook account, become a fan and comment on our Facebook Page!