Osmo,

I tend to disagree that none of this really matters.

Our arbitration case will not conclude for at least two years. A lot can happen during this time. If, for instance, a new anti-Chavez/pro-foreign investment government is elected, it is possible that this new government will be eager to right many of the wrongs of the Hugo disaster. They may...

• settle many arbitration cases early in a gesture of goodwill to the rest of the world.

• repeal or greatly modify the ridiculous gold law that drives away foreign investment away and possibility of ever getting the gold out of the ground

• compensates us for our losses and reinstates our MOC with favorable terms

• do any number of unthinkable things that would benefit us

Yes, all of the above (or anything like it) is very highly improbable but you never know...lots of strange and improbable things happen when politics is involved. Remember, many on this board were convinced our deal with the Chinese was a sure thing because Hugo would never screw the Chinese. Well, as we all know, Hugo and his cronies are morons and that deal didn’t work out.

I’m in no way saying that any of the above is going to happen. However, I do think that we will be better off in one way or another with an anti-Chavez regime in place.

Good luck to all and Happy Sunday.I’m going to watch some football now!

Beandog