Orascom Telecom is seeking a meeting with Algeria's prime minister after officials there said they would block any proposed sale of OT's subsidiary in the country, Djezzy. The operator said in a statement that chairman Naguib Sawiris has asked Egypt's foreign minister to arrange a meeting with the Algerian premier and the relevant ministers to clarify all the concerns of the Algerian government. Orascom confirmed on 28 April that its parent firm, Weather Investments, was in talks with MTN Group over the possible sale of all or some of OT's assets. The Algerian government responded by threatening to block any potential sale of Djezzy, Algeria's state-run APS news agency quoted the ministry as saying in a statement. Algeria's Telecommunications Ministry said it was exercising its prerogative, under a law adopted last year, to have the right of first refusal should Orascom seek to sell. Any transaction concerning Djezzy would be null and could lead to the withdrawal of the telephone licence granted to the company. OT has been locked in a tax dispute with the Algerian government involving Djezzy that has forced the company to file repeated appeals and pay a significant portion of the tax bill as a prerequisite to challenging the government. Orascom has disputed the Algerian claims about the taxes.
