Gold Reserve reports on Venezuelan Government's failure to follow its own laws - Part 2

cnw






SPOKANE, WA, May 27 /CNW/ - Gold Reserve Inc. (TSX:GRZ - NYSE-Amex:GRZ) commented today on an Official Gazette issued by the Government of Venezuela dated May 26, 2009 in which the Venezuelan Ministry of Mines (MIBAM) denied the extension of the Brisas del Cuyuni alluvial gold concession which contains approximately 3% of the proven and probable gold reserves of the Brisas Project.


During October 2007, the Company applied for the extension of the Brisas del Cuyuni alluvial gold concession pursuant to Article 25 of the Venezuelan mining law, which provided MIBAM a six-month period ending in April 2008, to deny the extension request. Similar to the El Pauji concession extension application discussed in our related news release yesterday, MIBAM did not respond to our request for an extension during the requisite time period. According to Article 25 of the mining law, the extension is automatically granted.


Again, as was the case with the El Pauji concession extension application, MIBAM has attempted to ignore its own regulations and laws. In September 2008, subsequent to the lapsing of the six month time period, the Company received from MIBAM a certificate of compliance (or good standing) of the Company's obligations set forth in the mining law and in the title for the Brisas del Cuyuni alluvial gold concession. MIBAM states in the Official Gazette that the Company timely filed an application for extension and acknowledged that MIBAM made its evaluation on the status of the concession subsequent to the six month time period promulgated in Article 25 of the mining law. Now, more than one year after the six month time period elapsed, MIBAM in internal reports asserts without evidence or prior notice that the Company is not in compliance with its obligations in regards to the concession.


This action has the effect of terminating the concession and could allow MIBAM to take physical control of the concession. The Company currently holds in good standing the hardrock or (veta) gold and copper concession that occupies the area below the Brisas alluvial gold concession. The hardrock concession contains proven and probable gold and copper reserves of approximately 10 million ounces and 1.4 billion pounds, respectively. The impact of this implied seizure on our rights to the hardrock (veta) concession is unclear at this time since the alluvial and hardrock concessions occupy the same 500 hectre area. In addition, we are extremely concerned about the future status of our employees located at the Brisas Project site.


Recently, MIBAM also requested all of the technical information comprising the Brisas gold copper Project. At this time we do not see any benefit to the Company in transferring that information to MIBAM.


There are various legal avenues in Venezuela or through arbitration proceedings available to the Company to protect our investment and confidential information. We are prepared to take all necessary actions to protect our property rights and investment.


Doug Belanger, President of Gold Reserve, stated, "As a result of these types of actions by the Venezuelan government, on April 21, 2009 we notified the Venezuelan government that a state of disagreement existed between the government and the Company under Bilateral Investment Treaties between, (1) Canada and Venezuela and (2) Barbados and Venezuela. Further, despite the prolonged obstruction of our rights to the Brisas Project, it is Gold Reserve's intention to settle this dispute amicably but if not then the Company will accelerate its efforts and file for international arbitration. The Company expects to make a claim for in excess of US$ 5 billion representing the fair market value of our investment at the time of the 2008 revocation of the Permit to Affect."





FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS





This release contains forward-looking statements that may state Gold Reserve's or its management's intentions, hopes, beliefs, expectations or predictions for the future. In this release, forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon a number of estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable by management at this time, are inherently subject to significant business, economic and competitive uncertainties and contingencies.


We caution that such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other risks that may cause the actual financial results, performance, or achievements of Gold Reserve to be materially different from our estimated future results, performance, or achievements expressed or implied by those forward-looking statements.