Gold Reserve wins favourable decision in French court
2017-02-07 13:25 CT - News Release
Mr. A. Douglas Belanger reports
THE PARIS COURT OF APPEAL DECIDES IN FAVOR OF GOLD RESERVE INC.
On Feb. 7, 2017, the Paris Court of Appeal rejected all of Venezuela's arguments and issued a judgment dismissing the annulment applications filed by Venezuela pending before the French courts in relation to the arbitral award granted to Gold Reserve Inc. and dated Sept. 22, 2014, rendered by the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID), against the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela.
At the court in October, 2014, and January, 2015, respectively, Venezuela filed annulment applications regarding the award and regarding the Dec. 15, 2014, arbitral decision dismissing its request for rectification. During the same period, the company applied to the court for exequatur of the award, which entails recognition and enforcement of the award in France. The court issued the exequatur on Jan. 29, 2015, declaring the award to be recognized and enforceable in France.
The court considered and rejected each of the arguments raised by Venezuela, confirming that (a) the arbitral tribunal properly took jurisdiction over the matter, (b) the parties were treated equitably, and the rights of defence and the adversarial principles were respected, (c) the arbitral tribunal ruled within the mandate conferred upon it, and (d) the award is not contrary to French international public policy.
As a result, the court has dismissed the annulment applications filed by Venezuela, and therefore the award in the amount of $713,032,000 (U.S.) plus interest remains enforceable in France. The court also ordered Venezuela to pay an amount of 150,000 euros for the company's legal fees and costs. Venezuela can consider the option of appealing the judgment before the French Cour de cassation, which is the court of final resort in the French judicial system.
James Coleman, chairman of the board, stated, "Even though we prevailed in this matter we consider Venezuela our partner and look forward to satisfaction of the settlement agreement and advancing the development of the gold-copper-silver Siembra Minera project (Brisas Cristinas). |
