Tokyo, Jan 14 (EFE).- Japanese firm Nissan Motor on Tuesday denied plans to dissolve its alliance with French group Renault and stressed that their partnership continued to be the source of its competitiveness.

The clarification comes in the wake of publications speculating that Nissan executives were exploring the possibility of breaking their decade-long alliance with Renault.

According to Bloomberg, relations between the two firms have been unstable since the removal of Carlos Ghosn, who served as the head of both companies.

A statement from the Japanese company refuted the news circulating in international media and flatly denied that it was considering dissolving the alliance.

"Contrary to the assertions in the articles, Nissan is in no way considering dissolving the Alliance," said Nissan, adding that the company set up the Alliance Operating Board with Renault and Mitsubishi Motors in March 2019 "as a foundation for continuous enhancement and underpinning for future success."

"The Alliance is the source of Nissan's competitiveness. Through the Alliance, to achieve sustainable and profitable growth, Nissan will look to continue delivering win-win results for all member companies," Nissan stressed.

Ghosn was first arrested on Nov. 19, 2018 and then on Apr. 25 last year over alleged financial misconduct. He was later released on bail, with restrictions on communications and movement, and a ban on leaving the country ahead of an expected April trial.

On New Years Eve, he violated the terms of his bail and escaped from Japan to Lebanon via Osaka airport.

Ghosn, in his first press conference since fleeing Japan, said last week in Beirut that he underwent long interrogations while detained in Japan and was coerced into confession by the Japanese prosecutors.

The Lebanese public prosecutor's office has received an Interpol red notice requesting authorities provisionally arrest Ghosn pending extradition or a similar procedure, seeing as Japan doesn't have an extradition treaty with Lebanon.

The Lebanese prosecutors have issued a travel ban for the fugitive ex-boss of Nissan-Renault, who was questioned by the authorities in line with the red notice.

Ghosn carries Lebanese, French and Brazilian passports.

There are no details of any possible legal charges against Ghosn in Lebanon, but prosecutors are investigating a trip he made to Israel in 2008, when the two countries were technically at war. EFE

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