Timerman says De Gucht's statements on YPF are 'unacceptable'

Foreign Minister Héctor Timerman said the recent criticism from the European Trade Commissioner Karel De Gucht regarding the YPF expropriation is “unacceptable,” and assured that it “surprised him due to his tone and approach.” 

“I find your criticism to our country’s trade policies unacceptable,” Timerman said in a letter he sent De Gucht, in which he said the European official’s statements represent an “overreaction.”

“Argentine complies with its international obligations and the decisions that it makes on trade are transparent and consistent with the norms and commitments taken in the World Trade Organization,” the letter continued. 

Timerman responded to De Gucht’s statements, who said that the Government’s decision to expropriate YPF was “an unfortunate decision.”

The minister also criticized the “disregard” shown by the European Union's High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Catherine Ashton, “who did not reply to any of the calls I made to her to discuss why the UK refused to comply with the UN resolutions on the Malvinas sovereignty issue.