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Crystallex International Corporation is a Canadian-based gold company with a successful record of developing and operating gold mines in Venezuela and elsewhere in South America

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Message: Where are we?

IBelieve...here is a re-post of Richard Marshall's response to your question (among others)

As a concerned long time shareholder, I have five questions that I need to have answered.

1. What exactly is the date of the legal deadline for Minamb to respond (or not) to KRY's appeal to the permit denial by Ortega? I've heard that it is "the end of October sometime" but I would like to know the exact date. Crystallex issued a news release on June 17, 2008 regarding the filing of an Appeal with the Minister of MinAmb. The Minister has 90 business days in which to consider and address the Appeal. If at the end of the 90 business days no response is returned it should be deemed as denied. The exact date of the end of this period can be a little grey in that there can be some debate on what Holidays apply and when the clock actually started ticking. Is it the second that the Appeal is filed. Is it when it is receipted in the MinAmb office or when the Minister first received the Appeal file. We believe the 90 day period end at the end of October, 2008.
2. Does Crystallex plan to immediately (i.e. the next business day after the expiration of the above referenced deadline) file paperwork to pursue the next legal step to protect the rights of shareholders? If not...why not? The passing of this date will no doubt be a material event, and given the cash burn rate and need for additional financing down the road, is of great concern to me as a KRY shareholder. We will consider any response or lack thereof for the next steps. We currently have two approaches underway (i) the Appeal process with the Minister of MinAmb, and (ii) the Political discussion process outlined in our June 24th news release. Both are proceeding and are independent of each other. We will update shareholders on both whenever there are material changes and/or developments. The Company has reduced its cash burn rates as evidenced in the recent Q2 reporting and continues to look at ways to further reduce expenditures. As discussed at the June AGM and in the Q2 reporting based on current burn rates and expectations the Company has sufficient cash until Q3, 2009.
3. In the event that Minamb does not respond to KRY's appeal to the permit denial by the deadline and the legal route is pursued...how would managment secure financing at that point? The Company will continue to monitor its burn rate and cash position. We have demonstrated an ability to finance in adverse markets. No decisions have been made and I'd expect a number of avenues could be explored next year when we need to finance.
4. We've been hearing about the "New Mining Law" now for longer than I care to remember. I thought I read somewhere recently that it should be "done and dusted" by the end of this year. Although KRY has an operating contract and Venezuela owns the gold....we've been hearing that the "new model" will be 50-50 joint venture. Do you anticipate having to wait for the "New Mining Law" to be finalized before finding out what the fate of KRY will be? When Phillip Cottin was asked a year or so ago what KRY's plan would be if they were forced into a 50-50 joint venture, he said that "there was no Plan B". Has KRY developed a "Plan B"? If not, why not? I have been involved with the Company since the early 1990's and have been reading and hearing of a new/revised mining law just around the corner. I believe modifications were considered and enacted in 1999/2000 with little impact on foreign investment and plans. In 2006 the MinAmb circulated another draft amendment proposal that was viewed as benign to the existing industry. The draft got little traction from the Government and fell off the agenda. I see again the chatter has resurfaced but to date no drafts have been presented. If/when a draft is presented then we'll be in position (after review) to comment on it. Until then it would be pure speculation by anyone.
Crystallex has a Mine Operating Contract, awarded by the Chavez Administration, that is in full force and good standing. The MOC has been reviewed and audited by numerous government agencies and we have confidence in the Contract and laws that govern it.
5. I understand that KRY is "in constant contact" with Venezuelan officials. We've heard this mantra repeated over the past months. Has there been any change in the status quo (i.e. questions, requests, etc. from Mibam or Minamb) subsequent to the last letter from Minamb? We have not been advised of anything further required and do maintain frequent contact with Officials and authorities overseeing the Mining Sector. The Vice Minister and Staff visited Las Cristinas and reviewed all the plans and modifications and informed in writing of our compliance and viability. the ball remains in their court and we are available 24/7 and doing all we can to get the Project back on the construction path by the issuance of the Permit.
Thank you very much for your time and consideration.
Very truly yours,
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