So it begins......

http://finance.yahoo.com/marketupdat...

8:14AM Crystallex updates shareholders on the Las Cristinas Project and a letter from the Ministry of Environment (KRY) 1.19 : Co advise its shareholders and stakeholders that it has received an official letter from the Venezuelan Ministry of the Environment and Natural Resources in response to the report on modifications to the Las Cristinas project submitted to MinAmb and referred to in the Crystallex press release of August 14th 2008. The communication from the Vice-Minister of MinAmb, notified Crystallex that MinAmb has reviewed the Report submitted by Crystallex and finds that the proposals in the report are viable and conform to the Environmental and Social guidelines of the Venezuelan Government. The Ministry further advises that these findings must be taken into account with respect to the decision the government is to take regarding the Environmental Permit for the Las Cristinas project. Although the letter from MinAmb does not formally address the Appeal procedure initiated by Crystallex in May, 2008, Crystallex has been advised by Venezuelan Counsel that in practical terms this letter supersedes the effects and position of the April, 2008 letter from a Director General in MinAmb denying the request by the Corporacion Venezolana de Guayana for the issuance of the Permit for the Las Cristinas gold project.