This was run in the Candian news paper today.

Crystallex vows fight over mine

The Canadian Press

Crystallex International Corp. says it will do "whatever is necessary" to protect its shareholders' rights and move along the Las Cristinas mine in Venezuela, despite comments by the country's environment minister that open-pit mining would be blocked.

Last week, the Venezuelan minister said the country wouldn't allow open-pit mining. That followed similar comments in a letter last month by an official in the ministry's permits office, which the company disclosed on April 30.

Crystallex said it still believes the new position is in conflict with ministry approval of a Las Cristinas environmental impact study, construction compliance bond and environmental tax, as well as National Assembly directives.

"We don't think this is the end of the story, but certainly we've got some obstacles that we're working to deal with," said Richard Marshall, vice-president of investor relations at Crystallex. He said the company believes Venezuelan policy, law, decrees and resolutions are all supportive of its position, and noted iron ore, nickel and bauxite are all mined through open pits.

The Toronto-based company said it's pursuing a legal challenge of the ministry's current opposition to the project, which has the support of local and indigenous communities, and began a legal appeal on May 12 under Venezuelan administrative law.

"Crystallex is also aware of its legal rights and remedies and will undertake whatever is necessary in order to protect its shareholders' rights," the company said.

http://www.thestar.com

/Business/article/427470