Bolivia
seeks arrest of top Repsol exec.
AP
MADRID
Petroleumworld.com
02 28 06
Bolivian prosecutors have issued an arrest warrant against the
top executive of Spanish-Argentine oil and energy company Repsol
YPF in the country, a spokesman for Spain's Foreign Ministry said
Monday.
The
arrest warrant was issued Friday against Julio Gavito, who heads
Repsol's Bolivian unit Andina SA, on charges that the company
allegedly smuggled oil between 2004 and 2005.
Gavito
hasn't been arrested, said Foreign Ministry spokesman Angel Vasquez.
His whereabouts have not been disclosed.
Spanish
diplomats in Bolivia have met with Bolivian authorities to discuss
the situation.
"There
are political contacts," Vasquez said. "We are following
this very closely."
Bolivia's
customs agency has claimed Andina allegedly exported more than
230,000 barrels of oil equivalent between 2004 and 2005 without
proper permits.
Repsol
denies it has carried out any illegal operations in Bolivia, where
it is one of the biggest companies.
The
company called the situation "a misunderstanding" and
said it was optimistic that a solution would be found.
Foreign
Minister Miguel Angel Moratinos called Repsol's Chairman Antonio
Brufau on Sunday to assure him the case was being taken care of
by the Spanish Embassy in Bolivia, according to Vasquez. Brufau
will travel to Bolivia this week to discuss the situation with
local authorities, the company spokesman said.
AP
02 28 06
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