SERGE SARGSIAN REFUTES RUMOURS ABOUT ARMENIAN SIDE’S INTENTION TO
PASS OVER ARMENTEL TO RUSSIA

YEREVAN, JULY 13, NOYAN TAPAN. Armenia cannot pass over ArmenTel
to Russia, as 90% of the latter’s shares belongs to the OTE Greek
company. Serge Sargsian, RA Defence Minister, Co-chairman of the
Armenian-Russian Intergovernmental Commission on Economic Cooperation,
declared this at the July 12 press conference.

Mentioning that several companies take part in the tender on sale of
ArmenTel’s shares, the Minister refuted the information, according
to which the Armenian side is carrying on lobbying activity aimed
at passing over ArmenTel to the MTS operator making part of the AFK
Systema Russian company. According to the same information, in return,
the AFK Systema, allegedly, assumes an obligation to relaunch the
Mars enterprise passed over to Russia for the Armenian national debt.

Igor Levitin, Russian Co-chairman of the Armenian-Russian Commission,
RF Transport Minister, in his turn said that the AFK Systema company
has expressed willingness to privatize or to assume long-term
management of Mars. He said that currently the Russian government is
discussing the way of passing over this enterprise to Systema.