OREANDA-NEWS. Mobile TeleSystems OJSC ("MTS" or the "Company" - NYSE: MBT), the leading telecommunications provider in Russia and the CIS, announces the signing of a settlement agreement with the Republic of Uzbekistan. According to the terms of the agreement the Company intends to resume operations in Uzbekistan through a joint venture with the government of Uzbekistan.

The signed agreement provides for establishment of a joint venture ("the Operator") with MTS holding a 50.01% in the charter capital of the Operator while the remaining 49.99% will belong to a state-owned unitary enterprise established and managed by the State committee for communications, development of information systems and telecommunications technologies of the Republic of Uzbekistan. The Joint venture will operate on the basis of assets, equipment and infrastructure, which were previously owned by Uzdunrobita FE LLC, a former subsidiary of MTS in Uzbekistan, and which will be transferred to this newly established joint venture.

The parties intend to finalize all procedures stipulated in the Settlement agreement, and to ensure commercial launch of the Operator`s mobile network by the end of 2014.

According to the Settlement agreement, the authorities of the Republic of Uzbekistan will grant the new operator 2G, 3G and LTE licenses, provide necessary frequencies and numbering capacity, ensure lease agreements for communication channels and issue all permissions required for the joint venture to operate and offer full telecommunications services throughout Uzbekistan.

Within the scope of fulfillment of the terms and conditions set out in Settlement agreement and transfer of a stake in the Operator to MTS the parties will submit a joint application to discontinue ongoing legal proceedings in the International Center for Settlement of Investment Disputes, Member of the World Bank Group (ICSID).

The Settlement agreement is governed by English law and provides for resolution of any disputes arising out of the Settlement agreement in the International Court of Arbitration under International Chamber of Commerce in Paris (ICC).