elevations, floor plans, office and support facilities, and the choice of materials, fixtures and furnishing the contract affirms that “SRGF’s involvement is in an advisory capacity only” and includes the following disclaimer, which renders the entire arrangement similar to a standard franchise: "SRGF shall have no obligations legal, financial or otherwise in respect to the ownership of the site, design or construction of the museum, or ownership, lease or operation of the site, design or construction of the museum , or ownership, lease or operation of the museum except for obligations to provide services pursuant to this agreement and liabilities that cannot be waived by law. Although the agreement had been announced as a fait accompli, it unleashed a deluge of criticism during the 2% months which passed before it was formally ratified by the Basque parliament. By the time Basque president José Antonio Ardanza personally delivered the first $10 million downpayment in New York (one day before the Feb. 28, 1992, deadline), the Basque parliament had voted to slash the museum's size by one-third, ta a total of 250000 square feet a decision no doubt taken in the face of political and public opposition to the project the reams of impassioned commentary published in the local press during that time period, probably the most hardhitting and influential critiques were those by Basque Country University Ramon and Mario Gaviria (published in the popular daily El Mundo). who took to task the feasibility study upon which the museum project was based.