Albtelecom’s privatization postponed
Uncategorized Wednesday, March 14th, 200714 March 2007 (AENews) – Turkish prime minister, ErdoÄŸan Recep Tayyip, postponed his two day visit to
Tirana due to health problems, while the Albanian minister of Economy, Genc
Ruli, announced there was a lack of progress in privatization of Albtelecom, Albania’s
fixed line telecommunication corporation.
Mr.
Erdogan's visit had raised expectations about ending the two year up-and-down privatization
process of Albtelecom by the Turkish company, Calik Enerji. An agreement was signed in April 2005 where 78%
of Albtelecom was sold to the Turkish company for EUR 120mn, but the new right-wing
government stopped the procedures, claiming irregularities.
"Last
week we talked with Calik Enerji, but they have not yet resolved the biggest issue",
Mr. Ruli said in a press conference in Tirana Tuesday. According to Ruli, Calik
Enerji should present a partnership agreement with an experienced
telecommunications company in order to fulfill requirements under Albanian
laws. Albanian government is under pressure from Turkish diplomacy to finish selling
Albtelecom to Calik Enerji.
Last
month, Turkish foreign minister Abdulla Gül, visited Tirana and declared full
support of its government for Calik Enerji’s ambition to buy Albtelecom.
Albtelecom
has 250,000 customers and a reported revenue of USD 120 million. The
corporation is currently working to expand its broad band internet service, and
has also a strategic international position with interconnection lines from
Bari (Italy) to Istanbul, (Turkey).
Short URL: http://www.albanianeconomy.com/news/?p=264
Posted by
on Mar 14 2007. Filed under Uncategorized.
You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0.
You can leave a response or trackback to this entry
