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                                  UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

                          -----------------------------

                                    FORM 6-K

                            REPORT OF FOREIGN ISSUER
                        PURSUANT TO RULE 13a-16 OR 15d-16

                                      UNDER

                       THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

                             DATED DECEMBER 17, 2002

                        Commission File Number 000-13727

                            PAN AMERICAN SILVER CORP.
                            -------------------------
                               (Registrant's name)


                           SUITE 1500, 625 HOWE STREET
                   VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA, CANADA V6C 2T6
                   -------------------------------------------
                    (Address of principal executive offices)


Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual reports
under cover of Form 20-F or Form 40-F.

                   Form 20-F [ ]               Form 40-F [X]

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper as
permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(1):  [ ]

Note: Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(1) only permits the submission in paper of a
Form 6-K if submitted solely to provide an attached annual report to security
holders.

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper as
permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101 (b)(7):  [ ]

Note: Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(7) only permits the submission in paper of a
Form 6-K if submitted to furnish a report or other document that the registrant
foreign private issuer must furnish and make public under the laws of the
jurisdiction in which the registrant is incorporated, domiciled or legally
organized (the registrant's "home country"), or under the rules of the home
country exchange on which the registrant's securities are traded, as long as the
report or other document is not a press release, is not required to be and has
not been distributed to the registrant's security holders, and, if discussing a
material event, has already been the subject of a Form 6-K submission or other
Commission filing on EDGAR.

Indicate by check mark whether by furnishing the information contained in this
Form, the registrant is also thereby furnishing the information to the
Commission pursuant to Rule 12g3-2(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

                          Yes [ ]               No [X]

If "Yes" is marked, indicate below the file number assigned to the registrant in
connection with Rule 12g3-2(b): 82-________

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                                   SIGNATURE

     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
registrant, Pan American Silver Corp., has duly caused this report to be signed
on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

Date:    December 17, 2002
         PAN AMERICAN SILVER CORP.



By:
/s/  Ross Beaty
- ----------------------------
Ross Beaty
Chairman and C.E.O.



[PAN AMERICAN SILVER CORP. LETTERHEAD]                          [CB SILVER LOGO]


                             N E W S    R E L E A S E

December 17, 2003

             PAN AMERICAN AND CORNER BAY EXTEND MERGER CLOSING DATE

Vancouver, British Columbia and Toronto, Ontario.....Pan American Silver Corp
(Nasdaq - PAAS; TSX - PAA) and Corner Bay Silver Inc. (TSX - BAY) announce that
they have extended the date for closing of the Plan of Arrangement to merge the
two companies as described in their earlier news releases dated June 19 and
November 15, 2002. The closing date has been extended until February 28, 2003 to
allow for the fulfilling of the condition for Corner Bay to secure water rights
for the Alamo Dorado silver-gold project in Mexico. An individual agricultural
unit (modula) signed a letter of intent to transfer ownership for the required
amount of water to Corner Bay. The Hydraulic Committee governing all users
within the water district is scheduled to meet before year-end to vote on this
transfer of water rights. If positive outcome is received at the Hydraulic
Committee meeting and the Comision Nacional del Agua ("CoNAgua" or "CNA"), the
Mexican Federal water governing board supports the arrangements, Pan American
will proceed to close the merger as soon as possible.

                                     - End -

Ross Beaty, Chairman or Rosie Moore, VP Corporate Relations, Pan American,
604-684-1175 Peter Mordaunt, Chairman or Steve Brunelle, Vice President, Corner
Bay, 416-368-6240


CAUTIONARY NOTE

Some of the statements in this news release are forward-looking statements, such
as estimates of future production levels, expectations regarding mine production
costs, expected trends in mineral prices and statements that describe Pan
American/Corner Bay's future plans, objectives or goals. Actual results and
developments may differ materially from those contemplated by these statements
depending on such factors as changes in general economic conditions and
financial markets, changes in prices for silver and other metals, technological
and operational hazards in Pan American/Corner Bay's mining and mine development
activities, uncertainties inherent in the calculation of mineral reserves,
mineral resources and metal recoveries, the timing and availability of
financing, governmental and other approvals, political unrest or instability in
countries where Pan American is active, labor relations and other risk factors
listed from time to time in Pan American's Form 40-F and Corner Bay's Form 20-F.



               910-55 UNIVERSITY AVE, TORONTO, ON CANADA M5J 2H7
                       TEL 416.368.6240 FAX 416.368.7141
                            www.cornerbaysilver.com
               1500-625 HOWE STREET, VANCOUVER, BC CANADA V6C 2T6
                       TEL 604.684.1175 FAX 604.684.0147
                           www.panamericansilver.com