Crystallex and Ministry of Environment Begin Discussions; National Assembly Committee Supports Las Cristinas

CRYSTALLEX INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION wishes to advise that on June 18, 2008, Crystallex was invited to a meeting by representatives of the Ministry of the Environment ('MinAmb'), led by Vice Minister of Environmental Planning and Administration, Ing. Merly Garcia. At this meeting, Crystallex was informed that MinAmb was instructed by the Government to reconsider issuance of the Las Cristinas Environmental Permit to Affect Natural Resources (the 'Permit') by discussing with Crystallex possible modifications of the Las Cristinas project, which could enable the Permit to be issued. The modifications suggested by the MinAmb representatives fall within three main categories: (i) further optimising the social projects in the area, (ii) mitigating the impact of open vein deposit mining in the currently affected areas of the Imataca, and (iii) improving the remediation plans at the end of the mine life as well as to remediate the existing environmental damage caused by the illegal miners who have worked in the area. The MinAmb representatives stressed the importance of expediting the submission of details relating to the suggested request for modifications in order to enable prompt resolution of the Permit.