SINCE AUGUST 5 AVEA STOPPED CO-OPERATION WITH KARABAKH TELECOM OPERATING ON AZERBAIJANI OCCUPIED TERRITORIES
Azerbaijan Business Center
Aug 8 2008
Azerbaijan
Baku, Fineko/abc.az. One of the leading cellular operators of Turkey,
AVEA, despite official position of its country, has co-operated since
2005 with mobile operator Karabakh Telecom that operates illegally
on Azerbaijan’s territory occupied by Armenia.
The Turkish Embassy in Azerbaijan informs that according to its data,
Karabakh Telecom has co-operation relations with about 100 countries,
including cellular operator AVEA of Turkey.
"In this connection the Turkish Embassy demanded information of that
from AVEA. The latter indicated that on the basis of the agreement
signed on March 13, 2005 between AVEA and Karabakh Telecom, in
April of the same year they launched mutual co-operation. In the
course of investigation it was established that in documentation
Karabakh Telecom wrote wrong illegal address, and since August 5,
2008 bilateral partnership was cancelled," it was reported.
AVEA was founded on February 19, 2004 following merger of two Turkish
mobile operators Aycell and Aria by Is Bankasi Group (51%) and Turk
Telekom&TIM (49%). Currently AVEA share at the Turkish market makes
17% and its subscriber network numbers 11 million users.
By the present Turk Telekom increased its equity stake in AVEA up to
81.13% and Is Bankasi owns 18.87% stake.
Is Bankasi Group, one of the largest in Turkey has considered
repeatedly prospects of activity in Azerbaijan. It studies an
opportunity of opening of a bank and a broker firm in the country. But
realization of these plans is impossible until the group cancels
co-operation with occupation regime in Nagorno Garabagh and adjoining
regions.
Earlier Russia’s Vneshtorgbank (VTB) encountered the same situation,
when its Armenian subsidiary opened a branch on occupied territories
of Azerbaijan. Since July 30 Azerbaijan stopped co-operation with
payment systems Western Union and Moneygram that declined to cease
receipt of money transfers to occupied lands of the country. Payment
system Migom stopped such activity aforehand.
It is obvious that the Azerbaijani government is losing fight against
illegal economic relations of occupants and separatists.