Published: Thursday, October 11, 2007 Bylined to: Roy S. Carson National Assembly (AN) deputy Ricardo Gutierrez on the Las Cristinas Saga.... Thursday, October 11, 10.07 a.m. Caracas -- interview with National Assembly (AN) deputy Ricardo Gutierrez about update developments in the Las Cristinas Saga.... http://www.vheadline.com/audio/11_Oc... Transcript translated from the Spanish original (below) by Vanessa Marcano Roy S. Carson: My name is Roy Carson, from VHeadline.com on the Internet. We spoke a few weeks ago about the situation in Las Cristinas, which will be discussed at the National Assembly. What has happened with that? Ricardo Gutiérrez: Well, last week, we met with executives from Las Cristinas, as well as with delegates from the Ministry of the Environment, the Ministry of Mines, and the CVG, an institution that is administratively in charge of all the mines in that geographical area. In that meeting, we discussed the reasons why the project has not begun yet, agreed to write a report, that I must finish by Monday, and we will call another meeting at CVG to draft a document for the President, to find a definite solution to the problem of permits, as well as some mining information that the government must obtain to see if, once and for all, possibly with the President's attendance, we can get this project started. Roy S. Carson: Ok, but… the rest of the details are being worked out with the President at this moment, or do you need a few more days? Ricardo Gutiérrez: We need one more day, to meet with all the ministries and business executives, draft the document and submit it to the President. Roy S. Carson: Ok, how much time will that take? Ricardo Gutiérrez: One week. Roy S. Carson: One more week? Ricardo Gutiérrez: In one week, we will be solving that, yes, starting Monday. Roy S. Carson: What do you expect after that? For the President to give the green light or what? Ricardo Gutiérrez: Yes, the President could even lead a special event there at the mines, and not only give the definite approval for the Las Cristinas production to get started, but that he will also inaugurate a broader, more general project, because it's not just about about mining at Las Cristinas, but also in a wide geographical area where there are some similar problems to those at Las Cristinas. Roy S. Carson: Ah, ok. So, the situation will be clarified within one or two weeks? Ricardo Gutiérrez: Yes, Sir. We will have a definitive answer. Roy S. Carson: And, the miners in Bolívar, are they pleased with that? Ricardo Gutiérrez: They are pleased, but we have to satisfy some demands. That's why we are talking about an integral plan, not just for Las Cristinas, but for all the productive, mining sectors. You know that sector is very poor and disenfranchised, it has many economic and social problems, and Crystallex has been doing excellent social labor there, and that helps a lot. Roy S. Carson: So, Crystallex has complied with all the requirements in the area, no? Ricardo Gutiérrez: Yes, they have complied. There were only two things left to finish: one, a system to get ride of the cyanide that is a by-product of the process of gold extraction and processing; and the other issue is that, as always, where there is gold, there is also a significant amount of copper, and we cannot waste that. We must find a way to process and take advantage of that leftover copper. We can do that in a way to benefit the miners, the smaller mining companies, a social project, in short. Roy S. Carson: Ok, perfect. So, the President will inaugurate those mines in two or three weeks? Ricardo Gutiérrez: The idea is for him to host a large event there, and gives his approval to the project. You have to find a way to make things a bit easier sometimes, you know? Roy S. Carson: But, the president of Crystallex, Gordon Thompson, he has been in Venezuela… have you met with him? Ricardo Gutiérrez: We met with Luis Cottin, an engineer that has been on top of the project there in Venezuela and in Las Cristinas, and he is a very knowledgeable and capable manager, his participation in the negotiations has been very useful. Roy S. Carson: Ok. Thank you, sir. Ricardo Gutiérrez: Thank you very much! http://vheadline.com/readnews.asp?id... thanks goddem