I hope that you're right OF. I was thinking the same thing.
It has always been apparent that Hugo NEEDS his countrymen to see him bashing, bullying and 'beheading' evil western internationals. For years he has been saying that the State is/has taken back Las Christinas.
Actually, he has always been truthful, albeit talking about something that already happened years before. Chavez has been playing this card ad nauseum.
However.....this could very well be the precursor for this JV to be completed. Technically, Venezuela DID take away Crystallex's Concession( it was just years earlier!), and technically, the mining of Las Cristinas will be a deal between Venezuela and a Chinese majority company. No need to mention that this Chinese majority company is a JV company with the minority partner being Crystallex. (a very silent minority partner)
I hope that this is all about Hugo's need to be seen as throwing out the bas@*&ds, and getting Las Christinas developed by Hugo's socialist benefactors, the Chinese, and Venezuela.
All very consistent with Chavez's public stance......the State will control the mining of Las Christinas.
I suppose we will have to accept the possibility that our share may be knocked down to 1/3 of a 51/49 % Venezuela/Chinese JV. About the same as what we were looking at 3-4 years ago, in terms of value.
Pen
