Finance Minister will propose to Cabinet that a firm decision on the Cesky Telecom privatization be postponed

Finance Minister Pavel Mertlik will today propose to Cabinet that a firm decision on the method and timetable of Cesky Telecom privatization be postponed until the end of September. Originally, the Cabinet should have discussed these issues by the end of June, but the creation and work of a co-ordination committee consisting of various ministries’ representatives took longer than originally envisaged, as did the selection of a privatization adviser. The new deadline is September 30, 2000. The delay is somewhat disappointing, but it is of a technical nature and we are convinced that the government is as determined as before to privatize Cesky Telecom. The stock weakened slightly after the announcement yesterday.
(Ondřej Daťka)