Alcatel promises Dividends? (NYSE:ALA)

Alcatel (NYSE:ALA) is promising to perhaps declare a dividend at its annual meeting on June 1, 2006. Serge Tchuruk Chairman and CEO is rightfully proud at significant improvements at Alcatel. But signaling to the market that maybe there will be a dividend declared five months from now puts the proverbial cart in front of the corporate donkey. Is this dividend promised and corporate governance be damned? Do boards of directors declare not dividends after sober review of the company’s financials? Am I too old school?