France Telecom (FTE.FR) is committed to lowering its debt and has no plans for a bond issue, Chief Executive Didier Lombard said Wednesday in an interview with BFM radio.

Lombard insisted that the French finance minister's Chief of Staff Stephane Richard was "ideal" to replace him at the helm of the operator in two years' time.

Richard has been appointed as he group's number two, and is expected to become France Telecom's new CEO in 2011, after Lombard retires.

Company Web site: www.francetelecom.com

-By Geraldine Amiel, Dow Jones Newswires; +33 1 40171740; geraldine.amiel@dowjones.com;