CROATIAN TELEKOM TO BE FURTHER PRIVATISED IN 2002

ZAGREB, Dec 27 (Hina) - The Croatian Telekom (HT)expects further privatisation in 2002, that is, seven percent of shares will be allotted to Croatian veterans, seven percent will be sold under favourable conditions to current and former employees of the Croatian Post and Telecommunications (HPT). A sale of shares through the international public tender (IPO) is also expected by the end of the year, the HT management board chairman, Ivica Mudrinic, told reporters Thursday. He also announced the financial restructuring of the company at several business profit centres, including those for Internet, mobile and fixed telephony etc. He assessed 2001 business year as successful. The additional 16 percent of HT shares have been sold to the Deutsche Telekom whereby the HT became privately owned and a part of a big group. The HT privatisation enabled the arrival of the most advanced communication services in Croatia, Mudrinic said. He added the role of the HT was to provide the best service to Croatian business people and economy when it comes to placing information, which is crucial to the effectiveness of its businesses, and very important to the overall economic growth of Croatia and its integration into European markets. (hina) np