Nokia poised to benefit from crisis - CEO in paper

FRANKFURT, Dec 1 (Reuters) - Nokia (NOK1V.HE) stands to prosper as the global financial crisis slams weaker rivals, the head of the world's biggest cellphone maker said in a German newspaper interview published on Monday.

"We will profit from the crisis. Our market position and size, our power to invest, global presence and strong brand make that very likely," Olli-Pekka Kallasvuo told Die Welt.

He ruled out seeking state aid for Nokia.

He also said he was pleased with the Nokia Siemens Networks (NSN) venture with Siemens (SIEGn.DE) even though the telecoms gear vendor is slashing jobs and costs as markets deteriorate.

He said he was satisfied "with the way the company has grown together as well as its technological progress. The advantages of scale in the market have become enormous. Only in this way did we have the opportunity to invest again," he said.

"I am even more optimistic now (about NSN) than I was at the start," he added. (Reporting by Michael Shields) (michael.shields@thomsonreuters.com, Reuters Messaging: michael.shields.reuters.com@reuters.net; +49 69 7565 1266))