Written by Jubilee USA Network   

Argentina reached agreement with the Paris Club, a 19-member block representing some of the world's wealthiest countries, to repay nearly $10 billion in debts. The agreement ended a dispute that dates back to Argentina's 2001 default and ensures that there will be no International Monetary Fund (IMF) promoted austerity programs. Further, Argentina has renewed access to capital markets and strengthened its position within the G20.

"Argentina negotiated an agreement that keeps the IMF out of Argentina," said Eric LeCompte, Executive Director of the religious anti-poverty organization Jubilee USA. "IMF austerity programs have wreaked havoc in both poor and wealthy countries."
According to Spain's El Pais, two-thirds of the debt is rooted in previous Argentine dictatorships and corrupt regimes.

"One of the principle problems with Paris Club negotiations is the unwillingness to assign fault to lenders that kept corrupt governments in power that abused their people. We are sending the wrong message to emerging democracies when they are forced to pay for the sins of their oppressors," shared LeCompte, who is also an expert to United Nations working groups on these issues.

Meanwhile, on May 27th the country filed its final arguments at the US Supreme Court in its dispute with hold-out creditors NML Capital and Aurelius Capital. These predatory hedge funds seek more than $1 billion in debt payments and refuse a deal that nearly 93% of Argentina's creditors accepted after its default. The high court is expected to decide in June whether or not to take the case. Because of the case's impacts on poor populations, global debt restructuring and poor country access to credit, Jubilee USA filed an amicus curiae brief to the Supreme Court.

"What happens inside those Supreme Court marble walls over the next few weeks will impact the world's poorest people." stated LeCompte.

Jubilee USA Network is an alliance of more than 75 US organizations, 400 faith communities and 50 Jubilee global partners. Jubilee's mission is to build an economy that serves, protects and promotes participation of the most vulnerable. Jubilee USA has won critical global financial reforms and more than $130 billion in debt relief to benefit the world's poorest people. www.jubileeusa.org