What bothers me is the possibility that Vz is using this "screw everybody" new law publically....but behind the scenes is winking and nodding to the Russians....letting them know they will be allowed to make a profit while squeezing KRY into either going to arbitration (the outcome of which they may think might be tilted in their favor with the passage of the new mining law) or taking a low ball offer from an "arranged" Russian suitor. I guess I worry too much but I think both Venezuela and Russia are capable of this from the sleaze factor point of view. Gold is a strategic asset in Vz and in Russia as well. It is a vehicle to assist in replacement of the dollar and weakens the imperialist pigs in the U.S. That makes the gold production of Las Cristinas more than "a fraction of the Venezuelan economy relative to oil"....it makes it a common strategic interest to both Vz and Russia and a way for Hugo to score points with his Russian counterparts.

On, the other hand, if this is simply Venezuela's sleazy way of negotiating with ALL parties....Russian, Canadian, Chinese, etc. on equal footing, I feel much, much better about our prospects.