As for France Telecom, Industry Minister Gerard Longuet said he had asked it consider partners for its international expansion. The two precise problems I am looking at today are what financial means should be explored, and what partnership, with other European operators or if necessary an industrial company? He said the issue would not be posed until 1998, when Europe’s telecommunications markets are due to be completely opened. It was up to France Telecom chairman Marcel Roulet to come up with proposals, Longuet said. Later, Longuet’s aides said that any outside shareholdings in France Telecom should be reciprocal cross-shareholdings and come in the context of specific international projects. There was no preconceived idea of what percentage any such opening might involve. The company has also been asked to consider spinning cellular operations into a separate company. France Telecom has not joined the queue of enterprises seeking privatisation, and its chairman has said that the current statute is quite adequate.
