Buenos Aires, Jue 23 (Prensa Latina) Chief of Cabinet Jorge Capitanich reported today that the legal dispute initiated by so-called vulture funds is being promoted by concealed interests seeking to appropriate real and financial assets in Argentina.

At his usual morning press conference, Capitanich warned that the government of Cristina Fernández would defend the country’s national assets, including its oil fields, minerals and fresh water.

He said also that Buenos Aires will keep the same line of negotiation in the context of the public debt restructuring begun in 2005, but via a ‘fair and equitable’ deal for 100 percent of the bondholders.

Equitable treatment cannot be violated by any judge, the official said, referring to the ruling by New York judge Thomas Griesa in favor of these funds, also known as holdouts.

For its part, the Parliament of the Common South Market (PARLASUR) will express its support for Argentina against the speculative attacks of vulture funds, according to a draft statement from that sub-regional legislative entity.

The text, that will be analyzed here by the PARLASUR on July 7, denounces the fact that these “exorbitant and unfair financial claims have been validated by the justice system of the United States.”

The text urges asking “national parliaments of the member countries of Mercosur (Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay and Venezuela) to speak out against the extortionary practices of vulture funds.”

The project has the backing of several Mercosur MPs, including Uruguayan Ruben Martinez Huelmo, president of Parlasur.