MILAN, April 9 (Reuters) - The sale of Telecom Italia's

(TIM) network is the only "realistic" option for the

group, as it grants the survival of the phone company, Italy's

economy minister said on Tuesday.

"TIM shareholders will decide if the sale of the fixed-line

network to KKR will go ahead," Economy Minister Giancarlo

Giorgetti told a press conference.

At an annual general meeting on April 23, TIM shareholders

will decide whether to hand to outgoing Chief Executive Pietro

Labriola, who engineered the network sale, another mandate at

helm of the group.