The circumstantial evidence suggests an answer -- delay.

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One possible coping mechanism, suggest Hellmann: Delay your answer for several hours.

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Any reference to a dispute resolution mechanism could delay a final answer for years.

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His efforts to get an answer that evening failed, but he said he was unsurprised by the delay.

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Of course, that information, as you say on the answer phone from the flight was wrong, because there had been a delay of 40 minutes.

BBC: News | NEWSNIGHT | Alison Hoglan interview transcript