Thanks for the reminder! Now I know why the Columbia Journalism Review is so highly regarded! Looks like things are occurring just as predicted in KRYs March 5th press release.

Sanz ``has to satisfy himself that there is no political liability,'' Thompson said in an interview in Toronto, where his company is based. ``Our view is that he'll walk into Chavez's office and say, `Issue it.'''

The company isn't likely to get a meeting with Chavez to plead its case and will have to rely on Sanz to press for permission to go ahead with the mine, Thompson said. The minister requested a visit to Las Cristinas during a meeting with Crystallex's management three weeks ago, Thompson said.

``He's a tough, no-nonsense businessman who will make things happen one way or another,'' Thompson said. ``He's not the man who will sit on the file.''