Azercell, Azerfon move to settle debt rift
Azerbaijan`s cellular operators, Azercell and
Azerfon, have launched talks on clearing the latter`s outstanding
11 million manat ($13.7 million) debt, an Azercell executive
said.
Ulviyya Hasanzade, who heads the company`s department on corporate relations and corporate social responsibility, told Radio Liberty that officials of the Ministry of Communication and Information Technologies are taking part in the discussions, as well. "The ministry has joined the talks with good intent and is providing its recommendations," she said.
Azercell partly cut off its connection with Azerfon last Wednesday, explaining the move was due to a breach of contract. However, a Baku court issued a ruling on the same day banning restrictions in the interconnection until talks on clearing the debt conclude.
The Azercell spokeswoman said the connection between the two networks re-opened on Thursday.
"The company wants to demonstrate goodwill," Hasanzade said. "The channels will remain open until talks have drawn to a close. There will be no problems in the network."
Azercell had taken action against the indebted company due to what it called "systematic breaches of monthly payment terms of the Interconnection Agreement" concluded by the two companies in February 2007, saying Azerfon had failed to act to clear the money owed despite its multiple appeals. Azerfon responded by criticizing its competitor, with its Chief Executive, Guido Helbich, labeling the move as "black PR" against his company.
Helbich did not elaborate on the statement regarding the 11m manat debt and only added that the company is in talks with Azercell to clarify issues related to the interconnection.
Ulviyya Hasanzade, who heads the company`s department on corporate relations and corporate social responsibility, told Radio Liberty that officials of the Ministry of Communication and Information Technologies are taking part in the discussions, as well. "The ministry has joined the talks with good intent and is providing its recommendations," she said.
Azercell partly cut off its connection with Azerfon last Wednesday, explaining the move was due to a breach of contract. However, a Baku court issued a ruling on the same day banning restrictions in the interconnection until talks on clearing the debt conclude.
The Azercell spokeswoman said the connection between the two networks re-opened on Thursday.
"The company wants to demonstrate goodwill," Hasanzade said. "The channels will remain open until talks have drawn to a close. There will be no problems in the network."
Azercell had taken action against the indebted company due to what it called "systematic breaches of monthly payment terms of the Interconnection Agreement" concluded by the two companies in February 2007, saying Azerfon had failed to act to clear the money owed despite its multiple appeals. Azerfon responded by criticizing its competitor, with its Chief Executive, Guido Helbich, labeling the move as "black PR" against his company.
Helbich did not elaborate on the statement regarding the 11m manat debt and only added that the company is in talks with Azercell to clarify issues related to the interconnection.
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