(Associated Press via NewsEdge) Greece's conservative government may sell another stake of telecoms provider OTE next year as part of an ongoing privatization drive, Finance Minister Giorgos Alogoskoufis said.
The sale would cut the state's stake in the former monopoly from the 38.7% it currently controls.
Alogoskoufis told private Mega television that more OTE shares would be sold 'only in the event where there is genuine interest' from a major European telecoms firm.
Local news reports said the sale would be between 10% and 15%, adding that Deutsche Telekom, France Telecom and Telefonica have shown interest in acquiring a stake in OTE.
Greeks pay higher rates for telecommunications services, both landlines and mobile phones, than most other European Union consumers, while broadband Internet penetration is the lowest in the EU.
The government is expected to announce privatization measures for 2007 in September. This year's privatization revenues amount to 1.74 billion euros ($2.24 billion), exceeding the 2006 target of 1.65 billion euros ($2.12 billion).
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