It seems obvious that Chavez's public announcements are designed to keep the share prices of GRZ and KRY depressed to make Rusoro's attempts to take over easier. The only other purpose is to keep the rabid socialists in his own party happy and the anti-north-america faction alive and kicking.

If Chavez can do anything to support Rusoro's bid for GRZ (and subsequently for KRY) he will do it as it lets him out of an expensive law suit and long delay in getting the mines operational. Even Polyus has reservations about Hugo's intentions and ability to deliver LC and LB and they won't touch them in the curent environment. Rusoro on the other hand can foresee getting something for nothing and the gratitude of Chavez to boot if they can get the government out of this contractual mess without costing them a fortune.

Sanz on the other hand knows that he has to deliver a working project that makes money for the operators and the government. He also has to be careful not to appear to be anti-Hugo less he incurs the wrath of the boss, but he seems to have at least a view of the legal realities, something Hugo is happy to ignore.