FRENCH REACTION TO ENGAGING EUORPEAN COUNTRIES ON

UNCLAS PARIS 001740 SENSITIVE SIPDIS STATE FOR EEB INVESTMENT AFFAIRS - J NATHANIEL HATCHER E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ECON KIDE AR FR SUBJECT: FRENCH REACTION TO ENGAGING EUORPEAN COUNTRIES ON INVESTMENT DISPUTES IN ARGENTINA REF: SECSTATE 088697 ¶1. (SBU) Per reftel request, Post shared points on Argentina investment disputes with French Ministry of Finance officials on August 19. Emboff followed up with Finance Ministry officials September 16 and met with Hugo Hanne, Head of the Americas Division and Vanessa Gouret, Deputy Head of Services, Investment and Intellectual Property Division of the Treasury and Economic Policy Directorate General at the Finance Ministry. ¶2. (SBU) Hanne and Gouret confirmed that France shares the U.S. analysis of Articles 53 and 54 of the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID) Convention. They also confirmed that a number of French companies face similar difficulties in securing payment by Argentina of arbitral awards under the ICSID. The French government is receptive to discussing with U.S. officials a coordinated approach with the Argentine government on ICSID obligations. STAPLETON