/INTERFAX-KAZAKHSTAN, Almaty, March 27, 08/ - Arna JSC considers claims on formed debts as incorrect from Kazakhtelecom.

Last Wednesday Kazakhtelecom spread the press-release, in which it was informed about a debt of Arna in front of Kazakhtelecom in the sum of KZT637,993,277 (current 120.78/$1) that became a basis for suspension of services of the company by national operator.

Moreover, Kazakhtelecom noted that starting from 2005 on the basis of Arna applications it concluded agreements on stepped redemption of debt, however "in spite of agreement data, the sum of debt only was increasing".

Thereupon Arna JSC has spread an information on Thursday, in which it refuses these claims of Kazakhtelecom.

"First of all, the half of mentioned sum that is KZT269,359,702.38 is not overdue debt for services provision since its term of payment has not come yet. Thus inclusion of this sum from Kazakhtelecom JSC to debit liability, announced in Mass media, is incorrect", - is emphasized in the press-release.

According to the message, the rest of the liability sum of Arna (KZT368,633,575.62) in front of Kazakhtelecom was formed during the period from March 2007 to March 2008 and "was the consequence of unfair tariff policy in relation to independent network operators".

In the press-release it is reminded that on May 28, 2007 to Arna JSC a notification about one-sided increase of tariff on telephone line, provided to rent from the beginning of June, was directed from Kazakhtelecom JSC, "according to which the cost of the rent for network operators increased not less than in 5-10 times and amounted from KZT10,738 to 19,678 for one telephone network".

"As a result Arna JSC considers this debt as doubtful and economically baseless. Therefore Arna JSC suspended the payment of services of Kazakhtelecom JSC as an act of its disagreement with one-sided multiple increase of tariffs from monopolist. Indirect confirmation of doubtfulness of this debt is an absence of it in financial statement", - is mentioned in the press-release.

"Nevertheless, Arna JSC declares about its preparation to constructive dialogue for regulation of appeared questions with the participation of agency of informatization and network on competition defense of the Republic of Kazakhstan", - is emphasized in the message.

On the moment of issue of this message, "Interfax-Kazakhstan" did not have any possible comments from Kazakhtelecom.

Arna JSC works on the market of Kazakhstan from 1993 and provides spectrum of telecommunication services for corporate clients as well as for private individuals. The company provides local, long-distance, international, and IP- telephone services, access to Internet, organization of highlighted channels, and creation of corporate networks for data transfer.

Kazakhtelecom is the leading operator of connection in Kazakhstan; locates a dominated position on the local market of telecommunication. State block of shares in the amount of 52% currently is in the property of Samruk Kazakhstan holding on management of government assets JSC.

[2008-03-27]