I do think his comment is hinting something to Crystallex or Gold Reserve. I really wonder who is the real target. Is this an informal response to Gold Reserve in regard to their appeal since KRY mentioned that they are encouraged with the VEN government while GRZ does not has such positive comment at all?

Here is another press release/Chavez statement that does not bode well for us. Positioning for a renegotiation is a valid, another price shakeout/ share takeout scenario is valid, chatter just to impress the masses is a valid argument, just to cause delay and decay share price to BK Crystallex is also valid.

The so called experts are now saying oil is not going to $80 but I am not so sure as I do not have all that much faith the financial crisis will be fixed before another (or the final) downturn. Chavez makes little money on oil under $100. If our economy continues into the tank which is what I beleive will happen, our demand for his heavy crude (and along with us the world demand) will wane.

So again how much pain are his people willing to endure? There is no profit for us in a buyout by Chavez, but there is also not any short term revenue stream to help with his financial woes for him if he renegs on our contract.

In answer to your question: GRZ could be a sacraficial lamb in this nationalization scenario, he reappropriaes GRZ concession and lets Crystallex mine Las Cristinas and start his revenue stream, and negotiates deals with Crystallex to assist him mine the GRZ concession as a nationalized project over the longer term.