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Strangling Falklands' hydrocarbons industry is 'unacceptable' with dangerous implications for global business

Monday, June 29th 2015 - 20:25 UTC
Full article 38 comments
“We have been absolutely clear that Argentine domestic law does not apply in the Falkland Islands nor in the waters that surround them” “We have been absolutely clear that Argentine domestic law does not apply in the Falkland Islands nor in the waters that surround them”
Falklands’ plans to develop their hydrocarbons industry, with the support and expertise of companies from around the world, is a legitimate commercial venture.  Falklands’ plans to develop their hydrocarbons industry, with the support and expertise of companies from around the world, is a legitimate commercial venture.
Timerman was quoted saying that on Monday he would formally request stock exchange regulators in London and New York to implement the seizure order. Timerman was quoted saying that on Monday he would formally request stock exchange regulators in London and New York to implement the seizure order.

The government of Argentina's campaign to strangle the Falkland Islands hydrocarbons industry is 'unacceptable' and taking action against British and international oil and gas companies has dangerous implications for global business, warned Foreign Office minister Hugo Swire on Monday reacting to an Argentine federal court ordering the seizure of UK and US assets involved in Falklands' operations.

“In the last few days we have seen the latest example of the Argentine authorities’ flagrant and unacceptable campaign to strangle the Falkland Islands hydrocarbons industry“, pointed out Minister Swire, who recalled Britain's commitment to the Falklands.

 “We have been absolutely clear that Argentine domestic law does not apply in the Falkland Islands nor in the waters that surround them. This politically motivated decision to target company assets is a wholly unacceptable attempt to exercise extra-territorial jurisdiction, and has no legal justification whatsoever”.

Minister Swire added that this action, aimed at British and international oil and gas companies, has dangerous implications for global business and “the government of Argentina should refrain from unjustified provocations of this kind”.

 In effect the Falkland Islands’ plans to develop their hydrocarbons industry, with the support and expertise of companies from around the world, is a legitimate commercial venture.

”The Falkland Islanders have every right to decide their own future, including through the development of their economy. As ever, we stand behind them and are confident that the international community will continue to resist these Argentine threats” concluded Minister Swire.

Over the weekend a Tierra del Fuego federal court ordered the seizure of more than 156m dollars on international equipment, including ships, drilling platforms and bank accounts of European and US companies involved in Falklands hydrocarbons operations.

Argentina's Foreign minister Timerman was quoted on Sunday saying that on Monday 29 June he would formally request that the stock exchange regulators in London and New York to implement the judge's seizure order. The companies named in the order are Premier Oil Plc; Falkland Oil and Gas Ltd, Rockhopper Exploration Plc, Noble Energy Inc and Edison International Spa.

Argentina claims sovereignty over the Falklands/Malvinas Islands and surrounding waters and for several years now has been on a campaign to isolate the Islands and strangle its economy by threatening companies and personnel from fishing companies, banning charter flights to the Islands, and the latest by pursuing hydrocarbons corporations, managers and workers with threats of prison sentences plus seizure of assets.

 The Cristina Fernandez administration argues that the hydrocarbons industry in Falklands waters is operating 'illegally' with no licensing from Argentine authorities, since it's Argentine 'jurisdiction' plus ignoring UN resolutions calling for sovereignty discussions with UK and no innovations while the dispute remains unresolved.
 

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  • Student of History

    In 1982 the UN acknowledged the UKs de facto sovereignty of the Falklands and passed a binding resolution requiring argentine forces to leave the Falklands. Any recommendations that have been issued since have asked that UK and argentine to resolve their dispute nothing more.
    If Argentina had a legitimate claim they would have pursued it at the ICJ .
    Unfortunately a lot of countries will be tempted to waste the oil firms money through legal action for political reasons the end result will eventually be an own goal for Argentina when the rule of law accepts a dispute over sovereignty does not mean sovereignty by the party who dose not control the area, with a bit of luck we might even see a ICJ ruling the claim illegal. They certainly did not think this one through because the argument might be taken out of Argentine hands by a third party's judicial system, what will they do then accept they have been lied to and taken for chumps.
    Although a more likely outcome is some ones sons and daughters will be asked to spill their blood or lose their lives for this distraction of a failing government in a failing state and their blood will be on government of Argentina and the sycophants who currently sit on the C24 committee. Needles to say it will not be the sons and daughters of the politicians, everybody will cheer the brave souls proud patriots until they lose then they will be denounced as rouges if not terrorists who will be charged with war crimes….
    They should be taken to the ICJ for enticement to provoke a war

    Jun 29th, 2015 - 08:44 pm 0
  • paulcedron II

    lets see:
    “Strangling Falklands' hydrocarbons industry is 'unacceptable' with dangerous implications for global business”

    dangerous implications for global business?
    lol
    it seems this useless guy is talking about germany here.
    but not. he is talking about the islets...lol

    ““We have been absolutely clear that Argentine domestic law does not apply in the Falkland Islands nor in the waters that surround them”
    so what??
    they are delinquents anyway.
    now they cannot set foot in any south american country without being prosecuted.

    “Minister Swire added that this action, aimed at British and international oil and gas companies...blablabla”
    what “international” companies?
    lol
    it is premier oil (lol x 1 million) and rockhopper (lol x 1 billion).
    nobody gives a flying fuck for them

    Jun 29th, 2015 - 08:54 pm 0
  • Pete Bog

    “since it's Argentine 'jurisdiction' ”

    They can argue sovereignty is disputed (by them), because sadly that is a fact. Argentina does dispute sovereignty over the Islands.

    But their heads seem to be swollen to the size of a hot air balloon if they think they have any jurisdiction over the Islands.

    Juristiction means they are controlling the Islands, which clearly they are not.

    Their Armed forces are not in control of the Islands.

    Their so called seat of government in Tierra del Fuego has no influence in the running of the Islands whatsoever.

    The signs and official documentation are in English which is not Argentina's official language.

    When aircraft fly to the Falklands, they don't check whether it's OK or not with Tierra Del Fuego to land.Abd stupidly they think that by sticking their fingers in their ears and repeating bullshit, it will stick.

    If it weren't for the powerwasher that can cut through the bullshit.

    Jun 29th, 2015 - 08:58 pm 0
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