On 23 May 2003, Pan American Energy LLC and BP Argentina Exploration Company, both companies incorporated in the State of Delaware of the United States of America (hereinafter “First Claimants”), filed a Request for Arbitration, dated 22 May 2003, against the Republic of Argentina (hereinafter “Government”, “Argentina” or “Respondent”) with the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (hereinafter “ICSID” or “Centre”). The First Claimants allege that Argentina, through its own actions and omissions and those of certain of its agencies, has violated several of its obligations under the Treaty Concerning the Reciprocal Encouragement and Protection of Investment between the Argentine Republic and the United States of America of 14 November 1991 (hereinafter the “BIT”),1 as well as international law and Argentine law.