CONSUMER ASSOCIATIONS CLAIM PROCEDURE WASN'T FOLLOWED IN SALE O HT SHARES

ZAGREB, July 4 (Hina) - A coordination of consumer associations requested on Wednesday that the Commission for Securities voice its view about the announced sale of 16 percent of Croatian Telecom (HT) shares because the Law on the Privatisation of HT was not respected in the sale procedure. Under this law, HT shares should have been be sold in a public bid procedure and not in direct negotiations with Deutsche Telekom, the coordination claims. On July 2 the Croatian government and DT representatives agreed on conditions for the sale of 16 percent of HT shares at a price of 500 million euros, which is to be confirmed by the parliament. The coordination, which includes the Croatian Association for Consumer Protection (HUZP) and the Croatian Association for Democracy Initiatives (HRID), expects the Commission for Securities, as well as other bodies of authority, to urgently voice their view on the discrepancy between legal regulations and the completed procedure. Due to reports that the government and DT will sign a letter of intent on the sale of 16 percent of HT shares, another consumer society, 'Potrosac', requested that the government voice its stand on the matter. (hina) rml