TWO CONSORTIA VIE FOR PRIVATISATION OF ROMTELCOM

Two consortia remain in the running for the privatisation of the Romanian telecommunications operator Romtelecom, following the expiry of the July 15 deadline for offers. One consists of the Italian and Dutch operators STET and KPN, while the other includes the Greek operator OTE and the American SBC group. The winner will be announced in October, three months behind the schedule initially outlined by the Government. This delay is due to Privatisation Minister Sorin Dimitriu's decision at the beginning of June, to launch a further call for offers in the hope of attracting other leading operators to bid for 35% of Romtelecom. France Telecom, which had...