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Argentina slams U.S. Judge Griesa for 'imperialist' attitude

[August 22, 2014] BUENOS AIRES (Reuters) - Argentina on Friday accused the U.S. judge who called the country's new debt restructuring plan illegal of making "imperialist" comments against the South American nation.

Latin America's No. 3 economy tipped into its second default in 12 years in July after U.S. District Judge Thomas Griesa blocked payments to holders of debt issued under U.S. law that was restructured following its record default in 2002.

Griesa said measures announced by Argentina's president this week to make debt payments locally and push bondholders to bring their debt under Argentine law violated past court rulings, though he stopped short of holding the country in contempt.

Argentine Cabinet Chief Jorge Capitanich said U.S. District Judge Thomas Griesa's choice of words were "unfortunate, incorrect and even, I would say, imperialist expressions".

In a statement issued late on Thursday, Argentina's economy ministry said the veteran judge's remarks showed a "complete ignorance of the functioning of democratic institutions."

Analysts say that a deal between Argentina and the U.S. investment funds who rejected large writedowns in the wake of the 2002 default is now unlikely before next year's election, in which President Cristina Fernandez cannot run.

The country's peso currency has shed 5.2 percent since the tough-talking Fernandez unveiled the draft bill late on Tuesday, its fastest fall since January, plumbing a new record low of 14 per dollar on the black market <ARSB=> on Thursday.

(This story corrects percentage of currency fall in 7th paragraph)

(Reporting by Jorge Otaola and Richard Lough)


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