Through an official press release published on Friday afternoon, the Argentine government stated US Federal Judge, Thomas Griesa, attempted to “block the payment for bondholders,” and committed an abuse of authority, after cancelling the deposit made on Thursday into a Bank of New York account.
A US judge has scheduled a hearing for Friday after hedge funds suing to collect on defaulted debt issued by Argentina complained about the country's plans to make a payment to creditors who participated in its past restructurings.
Argentina announced on Thursday morning it had deposited a billion dollars to honor restructured bonds' 30 June payment and at the same again asked for a new stay from New York Judge Thomas Griesa on the 'pari passu' ruling that forces the country to also pay holdouts 100% of defaulted bonds face value.
The Council on Foreign Relations, one of the most influential private organizations in US Foreign Policy, questioned the US Supreme Court for rejecting Argentina’s appeal in its legal dispute with the so-called vulture funds, saying the ruling will diminish national sovereignty and upend international finance.
Economy minister Axel Kicillof said US courts haven't yet responded to Argentina's request this week for more time to negotiate a settlement with a small group of holdout creditors and warned the country could face a technical default next Monday if the sentence remains firm.
Mediator Daniel Pollack named by New York Judge Thomas Griesa to try and help reach an understanding in the long running dispute between Argentina and the holdout hedge bond holders, said he had already held meetings with the solicitors from both sides. However he only revealed that discussions will continue until a resolution is reached.
The government of President Cristina Fernandez awaits Judge Griesa's decision after the request to issue a stay on the ruling that orders Argentina to pay all the bondholders at the same time, Argentine Cabinet Chief Jorge Capitanich said in his daily press briefing at Government House on Tuesday.
Hedge fund NML Capital have dismissed the Argentine government's request to reestablish a stay on payments to the holdout hedge funds, and called on New York judge Thomas Griesa to reject the plea.
New York district court judge Thomas Griesa on Monday appointed a Manhattan attorney to supervise talks between Argentina and hedge fund holdout bondholders after the government of President Cristina Fernandez asked him to organize negotiations with its creditors.
Argentina asked a U.S. judge on Monday to issue a stay of his ruling against the country in its case against holdout creditors as it sought to avoid a possible new default. The country is in a 12-year-old legal fight with investors who declined to participate in bond restructurings (2005 and 2010) after the country defaulted on 100 billion dollars in sovereign debt in 2002.