Paris, June, 10, 2005 (AFX)

Safran, the group formed through the merger of Snecma and Sagem, is not interested in buying the 5.7 pct stake in Thales SA due to be sold off by Dassault Aviation, Safran CEO Jean-Paul Bechat said.

'We are not at all interested in becoming one of many shareholders at the Thales table,' Bechat told a press conference.

Safran is 'not interested by a minority stake in this or that company,' he added.

Serge Dassault earlier said that Dassault Aviation will sell its stake in Thales SA directly on the market, rather than selling it to Thales shareholders Alcatel or the French state.