Cividale, I believe that you are wrong about who is/could/would be the best leader for a very successfull outcome for KRY, for the following reasons.

1. You are looking at the situation through the (very savy?) eyes of a western business man, and a western ( American) thinker.

2. We are dealing with a President of Venezuela, Chavez, who's way of thinking is all but opposite from western thinking.

3. We are dealing with a President who, on top of that, is extremely unpredictable, and

4. A politcal/legal system where any comments, statements, or promises mean not a thing, no matter how staightforward and 'honest' they seem.

5. We are dealing with a people to which pride means a great deal, and respect ( ass kissing?) is paramount. Saying nothing is more often than not, better than saying the wrong thing.....No impulsiveness....We could already be out on our A*#, if we had acted like you suggest, agressively. This is definetly not business as usual.

6. Finally, for the past year and a half, I believe we have been in some form of talks with a Chinese entity.....All the above go double when talking business with Chinese business men. We have a Chinese CEO. Robert Fung is extrememly successful, extremely well connected in Chinese business, and, I'm sure, to the political side of China as well....We are dealing now, I believe, with Chinese government business. Business that is connected to the the long term beneift of their country.

From everything I understand, concerning the above, you do not act impatiently, aggressively, or with a superior attitude. You respect their ways....(you kiss ass, if that's how you deam it, I call it with savey, and without ego) . You do not try to bully your way to what you want....

'You must have a light finger, and play the line with sensitive fingers, Grasshopper, or the big fish will surely outfox you'..

ok, I made that last bit up, but it says it all, don't you think?

Pen