Kazakhstan plans to sell most of its 50% stake in domestic and international operator OAO Kazakhtelecom in 2004, a Finance Ministry official said Monday. The government intends to fully deregulate its telecom market by 2005. Kazakhtelecom currently has monopoly rights for long-distance and international calls. The official estimated the privatization could lead to a 30% fall in tariffs and add $100 million to the value of the market. In 2002, the Kazakh telecom market was worth $570 million. Kazakhstan\'s government wants it to grow to $700 million by 2005, with the bulk of the added value going to new operators. (Dow Jones)