Visit of the Secretary-General of the PCA to Argentina
From 11 to 14 October 2022, the Secretary-General of the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) visited Argentina, to meet the members of the PCA Buenos Aires Office and those of the local arbitration community, and strengthen the ties between Argentina and the PCA.
The visit coincided with the third anniversary of the PCA Buenos Aires Office, which is the PCA’s first office in Latin America, and the third outside its headquarters in The Hague, the Netherlands. Since its establishment on 16 October 2019, it has allowed the PCA to better serve the dispute resolution needs of States and private parties in Latin America from the Palacio San Martín, where it is located. The three year anniversary was celebrated in a reception attended by members of the Argentine arbitral community, Judiciary and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
On 11 October 2022, the Secretary-General discussed with Ambassador Holger F. Martinsen, Legal Advisor for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the excellent cooperation between the PCA and Argentina. The Secretary-General of the PCA took the opportunity to thank Ambassador Martinsen for the support in favour of the PCA’s activities in the region and, in particular, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ offer to conduct PCA hearings and meetings at the San Martín Palace free of charge for the PCA and PCA participants.
On 12 October 2022, the Secretary-General met with the Vice-President of the National Supreme Court of Justice, Dr. Carlos Rosenkrantz, at the Palace of Justice to exchange views on the complementary roles of judges and arbitrators, and the need for cooperation between the two for the greater benefit of societies.
On the same day, the Secretary-General sat down with the General Treasury Solicitor for the City of Buenos Aires, Dr. Gabriel Astarloa, to discuss how alternative dispute resolution mechanisms, such as arbitration and mediation, could foster innovation and investment in Buenos Aires, to continue the city’s development towards a global legal hub.
Finally, on 14 October 2022, the Secretary-General of the PCA met with the National Treasury Solicitor, Dr. Carlos Zannini, as well as the Deputy Treasury Solicitors, Dr. Horacio Diez and Dr. Sebastián Soler, and the Director and Deputy Director of International Affairs and Disputes, Dr. Mariana M. Lozza and Dr. María Alejandra Etchegorry, to discuss the rich history between Argentina and the PCA, and Argentina’s long standing commitment to the peaceful resolution of disputes.
