Vet,

I'm not sure what your experience is with subtle negotiations, however it appears that you are either naive to the art or, as Teutracker has suggested, are deliberately attempting to cast doubt on Crystallex's probable strategy.

We are witnessing a chess match now, with large financial and reputation stakes.

Overtly and for public consumption, Crystallex has deliberately positioned Venezuela with two possible moves ... either to swallow very hard and return the MOC to the Crystallex with damages (this obviously will not happen, and may have been deliberately intended to inflame Chavez), or to accept a very credible arbitration case which they are almost certain to lose. The added threat of selling important equipment designed for Las Cristinas was perhaps intended to further force a decision timeline. Again, these two options may be solely for "public" negotiations.

The real end game for Crystallex and their Chinese partners may be neither of the above. Though both may be viable options for Crystallex (and they are preparing financially for both with their business contacts), they are not viable for Venezuela. So, what move have they left for Chavez? Now only perhaps to save face (and financially): that is, to approve a "Chinese/Venezuela" MOC, with a buy-out of Crystallex for some amount less than the arbitration amount, and a face-saving chest-thumping speech one upcoming Sunday.

So that is the art of negotiations, Vet .... to distract your counterpart with viable distasteful options, and allow in reality only one way out. Checkmate, Hugo.

Regarding the Chinese (sovereign) connection, and in particular the Canadian/Chinese connection with long-standing trust relationships, we shall see too. In my own opinion, Teutracker is right on the mark: Crystallex and the Chinese entities are now rowing in quiet tandem. Venezuela, on the other hand, may soon find themselves up the Yangtze without a paddle.

ishep