03.08.2000, MEDIAMAX, YEREVAN. The bargain struck between the Government of Armenia and Greek State Telecommunications Corporation OTE was not only one of the first but also the greatest in the history of independent Armenia.
The President of Armenia Robert Kocharian declared about this at the meeting with Vulgaris Alexandros, the deputy minister of post and telecommunications of Greece, and Niklos Manasis, the president of OTE, was reported to MEDIAMAX in the press office of the president of Armenia.
OTE owns 90% of the stocks of “ArmenTel” Co. – the monopolist of the telecomm sphere of Armenia.
The two-day negotiations ended in signing a memorandum of mutual understanding between the Government of Armenia and OTE on August 2. Presenting the main points of the document to the President of Armenia, Mr. Manasis expressed hope that it will allow “ArmenTel” work better. The problems were mainly caused by different perceptions of free market principles and by the difference of national legislations, said Manasis. The sides achieved an agreement on mutual serious and detailed discussion of all the issues.
Niklos Manasis assured that all the existing problems will be settled before the visit of Robert Kocharian to Greece, planned in November. The Armenian President stressed that there are no political problems between Armenia and Greece, there are common interests for mutually beneficial relations, which gives a serious chance for bilateral economic cooperation.
The government of Armenia has repeatedly expressed discontentment with the fact that “ArmenTel ” does not fulfil its investment obligations. “If by September 3, 2000 “ArmenTel” is not able to carry out the responsibilities taken by it, then a session of the council of directors will be held in Greece, at which a final decision on the discussed issue will be taken”, declared on July 13 the Minister of transport and communications of Armenia, Edward Madatian.
OTE plans to gain more than 77 million dollars in Armenia by 2003, informed the Greek ANA agency on July 21, 2000. The statement of OTE says that the profits of “ArmenTel” in the first quarter of 2000 made 4.2 million dollars. Besides, OTE has declared that by 2003 the number of mobile telephony users in Armenia will exceed 70.000. -0-
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