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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Seized Argentinian sailing ship leaves Ghana | Seized Argentinian sailing ship leaves Ghana |
| (about 1 month later) | |
| An Argentinian navy ship detained for 10 weeks in Ghana because of a dispute with a US-based "vulture fund" has finally set sail from west Africa. | An Argentinian navy ship detained for 10 weeks in Ghana because of a dispute with a US-based "vulture fund" has finally set sail from west Africa. |
| Cristina Fernández, the president of Argentina, welcomed the end of the diplomatic crisis, describing the vessel as "a symbol of sovereignty and national dignity". | Cristina Fernández, the president of Argentina, welcomed the end of the diplomatic crisis, describing the vessel as "a symbol of sovereignty and national dignity". |
| The ARA Libertad, a three-masted sailing vessel used for training, had been visiting Ghana as part of a west African tour and had been due to sail on to Angola when it was detained on 2 October. | The ARA Libertad, a three-masted sailing vessel used for training, had been visiting Ghana as part of a west African tour and had been due to sail on to Angola when it was detained on 2 October. |
| This followed a court order obtained by NML Capital, which claims it is owed $370m (£231m) in government bonds following Argentina's debt default in 2002. | This followed a court order obtained by NML Capital, which claims it is owed $370m (£231m) in government bonds following Argentina's debt default in 2002. |
| But the international tribunal for the law of the sea ruled on Saturday that Ghana should release the ship, after Argentina argued that a UN convention gives warships immunity from civil claims in foreign ports. The court said holding the ship was "a source of conflict that may endanger friendly relations among states". | But the international tribunal for the law of the sea ruled on Saturday that Ghana should release the ship, after Argentina argued that a UN convention gives warships immunity from civil claims in foreign ports. The court said holding the ship was "a source of conflict that may endanger friendly relations among states". |
| The decision was welcomed by campaigners, who accuse vulture funds of buying the defaulted sovereign debt of poor countries at knockdown prices only to then chase full repayment through foreign courts. | The decision was welcomed by campaigners, who accuse vulture funds of buying the defaulted sovereign debt of poor countries at knockdown prices only to then chase full repayment through foreign courts. |
| The Libertad departed Ghana's main port, Tema, on Wednesday. "The boat has just set sail after supplies (arrived)," Jacob Kwabla Adokor, the port director, told Reuters. "Everything went smoothly. The ropes came off 20 minutes ago." | The Libertad departed Ghana's main port, Tema, on Wednesday. "The boat has just set sail after supplies (arrived)," Jacob Kwabla Adokor, the port director, told Reuters. "Everything went smoothly. The ropes came off 20 minutes ago." |
| Earlier in the day 98 sailors were flown in from Buenos Aires, Argentina's capital, to replace the 326 crew members who evacuated the detained ship in October, leaving a skeleton crew for essential maintenance. | Earlier in the day 98 sailors were flown in from Buenos Aires, Argentina's capital, to replace the 326 crew members who evacuated the detained ship in October, leaving a skeleton crew for essential maintenance. |
| In November, sailors on board the Libertad reportedly pulled guns on Ghanaian officials when they tried to board the vessel to move it to another berth. | In November, sailors on board the Libertad reportedly pulled guns on Ghanaian officials when they tried to board the vessel to move it to another berth. |
| The Libertad is due to arrive in Mar del Plata, Argentina, on 9 January, at the height of the southern hemisphere summer season. | The Libertad is due to arrive in Mar del Plata, Argentina, on 9 January, at the height of the southern hemisphere summer season. |
| Fernández said: "There will be a lot of tourists and they'll be able to visit the ship, which has become a symbol of sovereignty and national dignity." | Fernández said: "There will be a lot of tourists and they'll be able to visit the ship, which has become a symbol of sovereignty and national dignity." |
| Creditors including NML have won several billion dollars in damages in US courts over Argentina's $100bn (£61.5bn) debt default. But they have struggled to collect as most of Argentina's assets abroad are protected by sovereign immunity laws. | Creditors including NML have won several billion dollars in damages in US courts over Argentina's $100bn (£61.5bn) debt default. But they have struggled to collect as most of Argentina's assets abroad are protected by sovereign immunity laws. |
| A US court recently ordered Argentina to pay $1.3bn (£800m) to NML and other sovereign bondholders who shunned debt restructuring deals in 2005 and 2010. The court decision was halted pending appeal. | A US court recently ordered Argentina to pay $1.3bn (£800m) to NML and other sovereign bondholders who shunned debt restructuring deals in 2005 and 2010. The court decision was halted pending appeal. |
| Argentina's defence ministry contested the detention of the ship, claiming sovereign immunity for it as a military vessel, but a court in Ghana's capital of Accra upheld the seizure as legal. | Argentina's defence ministry contested the detention of the ship, claiming sovereign immunity for it as a military vessel, but a court in Ghana's capital of Accra upheld the seizure as legal. |
| Argentina' has consistently rejected claims for debt repayment by NML and other hedge funds, calling them "vulture funds". | Argentina' has consistently rejected claims for debt repayment by NML and other hedge funds, calling them "vulture funds". |
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