An annual general meeting of shareholders (AGM) of Uzbekistan’s national fixed-line operatorUzbektelecom has approved paying 2006 dividends of 88.63 soums per common share and 250 soums per preferred share, a company said.

Uzbektelecom paid 80.63 soums per common share and 250 soums per preferred share in dividends for 2005.

The company said last month net profit had fallen 13.6% on the year to 3.463 billion soums in 2006.

Uzbektelecom’s charter capital is divided into 30,849,826 common shares and 1,114,984 preferred shares with a face value of 1,000 soums each.

The operator is 94%-owned by the Uzbek government.