Lord Justice Moore-Bick:

1. This is the judgment of the court.

1. Introduction

2. This appeal arises out of an attempt by the respondent, Svenska Petroleum Exploration AB (“Svenska”), to enforce as a judgment in this country an arbitration award made in Denmark by a panel of arbitrators acting under the rules of the International Chamber of Commerce (“the ICC”). The award was made in favour of Svenska against the appellant, the Government of the Republic of Lithuania (“the Government”), and AB Geonafta, which, until it was privatised on 16th June 2000, was an organisation owned and controlled by the state of Lithuania but which enjoyed separate legal personality.