Yekhanurov Puts Ukrtelecom's Privatization Preparations In High Gear.

Acting Prime Minister Yurii Yekhanurov ordered the State Property Fund and the Transport & Communications Ministry to have all documents necessary for Ukrtelecom’s (UTEL: HOLD) privatization ready by the end of next week for review. The government has been saying that it plans to privatize UTEL, Ukraine’s largest telecommunications company, in 2006. Concorde Capital: The fact that UTEL was not put on the initial 2006 privatization list and the stormy conditions in the Rada, make Yekhanurov’s move look rather optimistic. We have seen the deadline set for UTEl’s privatization hundreds of times, however, we think the company stands a good chance of being privatized sometime this year.