I don't see the Russians doing anything. They have had years to get involved, but unlike China, the Russians are broke. They are trying to sell off portions of recently re-nationalized businesses to raise cash since the EU denied them loans this summer. They are stuggling to maintain their own industrial base.

The Russians are much like Hugo -- they talk a lot and do very little. The one real thing that they have done was to loan money to Hugo to buy weapons -- not really a loan, just a credit sale.

The accumulated losses of Crystallex are without any value unless Crystallex earns future profits to offset against those losses.

With only $400 million in cash and 500 million shares outstanding, IMO Crystallex is not in the position of Gold Reserves as far as pursuing future projects, very few would go on that ride.

I expect the JV to happen and China to buy out LB, and do whatever they decide to do with it outside the JV, unless we are unbelievably lucky, which hasn't been the case to date.