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Armenian govt. to sell 10% in Armentel to Russia's VimpelCom

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MOSCOW, March 22 (RIA Novosti) - Armenia's government said Thursday it would sell its 10% stake in Armentel for 38 million euros ($48.9 million) to Russian mobile phone operator VimpelCom [RTS: VIMP], making it the sole owner of the Armenian telecommunications group.

Last November, VimpelCom acquired 90% of Armentel's stock from Hellenic Telecommunications Organization SA (OTE) for 341.9 million euros ($440 million).

A spokesmen for the Armenian government said the price quoted for the 10% stake accounts for one-ninth of the amount VimpelCom paid to the Greek company for the 90% stake in Armentel.

The Armenian government first proposed selling the remainder to VimpelCom last year, on condition that the company does not try to monopolize the post-Soviet South Caucasus nation's telecoms market.

Under the deal, VimpelCom will also take on Armentel's debt, totaling around 40 million euros ($51 million).

Armentel is Armenia's landline phone monopoly, which also offers Internet connection to providers and end-users. In addition, it is one of the two Armenian mobile phone operators, with about 400,000 subscribers across the country.

VimpelCom is Russia's second-largest mobile phone services provider, best known for its Beeline brand. It also operates in the former Soviet republics of Kazakhstan, Georgia, Tajikistan, Ukraine, and Uzbekistan.

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