Deutsche Telekom, Europe's biggest communications operator, is open to the idea of taking over a further 10% in the Greek group, as it wants to strengthen its position on major markets such as Romania and Bulgaria, but is not pushing the Greek state in this direction, though Athens' financial troubles are likely to simplify negotiations, says CEO Rene Obermann. "There is a life after the crisis" Rene Obermann told German weekly Welt am Sonntag. "Our outlook for the future reaches beyond two to three years," he said, adding that the stake in OTE had allowed the company to expand its presence in countries such as Romania and Bulgaria. "Why should we regret our good position in South-Eastern Europe?," Obermann said. OTE owns Romtelecom, Cosmote, Zapp and Germanos in Romania, which have over 12,000 employees together and annual turnover of above 1.1bn euros. So far, the Germans have made no radical change in Romania. The acquisition of an additional 10% in OTE would likely trigger changes within OTE and its companies in the region, a situation where the Germans may step up their presence inclusively in Romania.

Deutsche Telekom, Europe's biggest communications operator, is open to the idea of taking over a further 10% in the Greek group, as it wants to strengthen its position on major markets such as Romania and Bulgaria, but is not pushing the Greek state in this direction, though Athens' financial troubles are likely to simplify negotiations, says CEO Rene Obermann. "There is a life after the crisis" Rene Obermann told German weekly Welt am Sonntag. "Our outlook for the future reaches beyond two to three years," he said, adding that the stake in OTE had allowed the company to expand its presence in countries such as Romania and Bulgaria. "Why should we regret our good position in South-Eastern Europe?," Obermann said. OTE owns Romtelecom, Cosmote, Zapp and Ge