Sanz: "The government will seek partnerships with companies from "India and possibly other countries," for developing Venezuela's diamond production, which Sanz said is currently mired by illegal activities and trading.

Oops I guess Sanz didn't get the message last May or maybe this never did really have any pull with Sanz:

May 15, 2008

CARACAS (Dow Jones)--Venezuela won't grant a permit to Crystallex
(KRY) for the Las Cristinas gold mine, as the government has decided
to no longer grant licenses for open-pit mining for gold, diamonds
and coal, Venezuela's Environmental Minister Yuviri Ortega said
Thursday.

"We are not going to give permits to anyone for open-pit mining in
gold, diamonds and coal," Ortega told reporters.

According to the minister, Crystallex was planning on open-pit mining
in the Las Cristinas gold mine. When asked specifically about Las
Cristinas, she said: "Yes (open pit mining) is the method for Las
Cristinas," which isn't allowed.

The Environmental Ministry recently denied a request from Crystallex
to carry out exploration activities in the mining area of Las
Cristinas.

According to Ortega several mining concessions were under review
because the companies aren't following "adequate procedures" in their
exploitation activities.