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MOSCOW, Sept 2 (Reuters) - Russian President Vladimir Putinsaid on Friday the government should not discriminate againstany market players willing to bid in the privatisation of oilproducer Bashneft, according to a transcript of hisinterview with Bloomberg.
Answering a question about interest in Bashneft from oilmajor Rosneft, Putin said it was not the best optionif one state-controlled company acquires another state company,but the key was who gives the most money for the state budget.
"Rosneft, strictly speaking, is not a state company. Let usnot forget that a part of it is owned by BP, a Britishcompany," Putin said, according to the text of the interviewpublished on the Kremlin's website. (Reporting by Katya Golubkova and Christian Lowe; Writing byMaria Kiselyova; Editing by Lidia Kelly)
