Greece does not want to talk to “a rickety commission … – The World

Greece does not want to talk to "a rickety commission … – The World

The key

• After his election on Sunday, the new Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras, has spent his week to discuss with its European partners on the issue of debt relief.
• For their part, EU representatives have expressed firm, prompting the new government to respect the agreements.

“Ignore agreements [signed between Athens and its European partners] is not the right path to take” , launched Mr. Dijsselbloem after a meeting with the new Greek Finance Minister Yanis Varoufakis, whom he asked to “define his position to move forward” .

The latter responded by explaining that the Greek government was willing to “ talk ‘with Europe but not with ” a rickety board, [the delegation] of the “troika” “ (EU, IMF and ECB).

“This election platform has earned us the trust of the Greek people. Our first government initiative will not reject the logic of the challenging program [for financial assistance] requesting the extension “.

The new Greek government does not request an extension of the financial assistance program, which expires on 28 February. Both parties will decide later before this deadline, said Mr. Dijsselbloem, which nevertheless described the discussions as “constructive”.

Greece is still awaiting payment of 7.2 billion euros, the ultimate installment of the assistance programs totaling 240 billion negotiated since the crisis of 2009. Mr. Varoufakis did not specify how Greece, which will have to repay some 10 billion bonds maturing summer euro new agreement would not

Read the interview with Georges Katrougalos, new Greek Minister of Administrative Reform. Greece: “We we recognize neither the memorandum nor the troika “

Alexis Tsipras PARIS FEBRUARY 4

From Berlin, the German finance minister Wolfgang Schäuble already had in Athens warned against any attempt to pressure on the debt restructuring:

“On this point, there is not much to discuss with us; Furthermore, it is difficult to blackmail us. “

If the decisions are met, however, ” We are ready for any cooperation and solidarity. But only in that context and for no other “, has stressed the German minister.

The French President Francois Hollande and German Chancellor Angela Merkel will try Friday night during a informal dinner in Strasbourg organized by the European Parliament President Martin Schulz, to find a common position on Greece.

Next week promises to be busy for Alexis Tsipras, who will travel to Rome on February 3 before joining Paris 4, to meet Mateo Renzi Hollande. It is also expected to Brussels to meet the President of the European Commission, Jean-Claude Juncker. And put on the table the burning questions that have been repeatedly raised this week

See also our decryption. Syriza: What scope for Alexis Tsipras

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