Argentine Economy Minister Hernán Lorenzino and Central Bank Governor Mercedes Marcó del Pont are leading the country’s delegation in the technical G20 meeting in Mexico, where they are expected to insist on the government’s criticisms against ‘vulture funds’ and credit rating agencies.
When Argentina still has not recovered from the impounding of the Navy’s flagship, ARA Libertad, retained in Ghana, another piece of bad news was confirmed in Pretoria on Friday when South African Foreign minister admitted that a second navy vessel, ARA Espora, docked in Simonstown was exposed to a similar fate.
President Cristina Fernández returned to stage on Thursday and assured that Argentina's dollar-denominated debt bonds are to be “paid in dollars” whilst criticizing the New York judiciary for its latest ruling against Argentina, in a speech at the Government House.
The Argentine navy flagship ARA Libertad impounded in Ghana by US investment funds since 2 October has cost so far over 2.6 million dollars, half of which for the repatriation of the 281 cadets and crewmembers, according to Argentine naval and diplomatic sources quoted in the Buenos Aires media.
Argentina finally admitted that the retaining of the training frigate ARA Libertad in Ghana is not an isolated case since the so called ‘vulture’ funds have managed to impound a total of 28 assets including the presidential aircraft Tango 01, bank accounts, property and even a satellite.
Ghanaian officials asked a judge Thursday to order the Argentine navy ship detained in the West African nation over a debt dispute to be moved because it was blocking valuable space at the port of Tema.
Argentine Defence Minister Arturo Puricelli took responsibility on Thursday for the fate of the navy training frigate Libertad, which continues to be impounded in Ghana. Meanwhile from Ghana a top official said the country was “embarrassed” with the whole incident.
Argentine President Cristina Fernández joined the US presidential campaign harshly criticizing Republican candidate Mitt Romney and stating she is “more alike” the current head of state, Democrat Barack Obama, who is running for re-election.
After three weeks retained in Ghana, members of the crew and cadets from the Argentine Navy training vessel ARA Libertad arrived past midnight Wednesday to Ezeiza airport in Buenos Aires where relatives and media were waiting.
Argentine president Cristina Fernández in a national broadcast blasted ‘vulture funds’ retaining the impounded training frigate ARA Libertad in Ghana and pledged never to yield the dignity and sovereignty of the country to these funds.