London – The Greek Finance Minister Yanis Varoufakis is expected Monday in London as part of a European tour of Athens, seeking a reprieve to find new solutions to the problem of debt relief .
Meanwhile, Alexis Tsipras, head of the new government formed after the anti-austerity Syriza party, will be Monday in Cyprus, the neighboring Mediterranean island that has been, too, of a plan International assistance in return for draconian austerity measures to save it from bankruptcy.
In Paris, the first stage of his trip, Mr. Varoufakis said Sunday it would be very reasonable to hope for a new deal for Greece and all nations (European) by the end of May, after a meeting with his French counterpart, Michel Sapin, and before going to London and then on Tuesday at Rome, and later, on a date for the unknown time in Germany.
In the meantime we will not ask for new loans to creditors of Greece, he said, while that all Europe examines carefully the first steps of the new Greek government, from the radical left Syriza training and voted on 25 January.
The markets are wondering how long Greece at bay, may take financially
-. ‘Do not keep squeezing’ –
On Sunday, US President Barack Obama estimated on CNN about the crisis in Greece, we can not continue to squeeze the countries that are in a deep depression.
While acknowledging that Greece had a terrible need of reform, Obama felt it is very difficult to initiate these changes if people’s standard of living has dropped 25%. Over time, the political system, the company can not stand it.
Mr. Varoufakis has in turn asked that Europe gives him a little time.
We need a little time to explain the government’s position to the various partners of Athens, a-t- he said wishing to have until the end of this month (February) to put on the table our detailed proposals.
After a period of one month, maybe six weeks, we could reach an agreement, he said at a press conference.
Mr. Fir assured that France will support, facilitate, will always be there to found a channel, a solution that allows everyone to overcome its difficulties, adding that it was in Athens that the coming days are the quietest possible.
The first steps of the Greek new executive had hinted of potential fractures with some European partners, including Friday during a tense press conference between Mr. Varoufakis and the boss of the Eurogroup Jeroen Dijsselbloem.
Syriza has just taken the handles of a country struggling under a debt of over 300 billion euros (nearly 175% of GDP). Many countries, including powerful Germany, wary of his proposals.
On Saturday, German Chancellor Angela Merkel has rejected any idea of outright cancellation of debt, largely owned by European states, starting with Germany (€ 40 billion) and France (31 billion).
Mr. Varoufakis has not detailed the Greek positions, who want an agreement to deliver to dish the situation, that ties our repayments to Greek growth
-. Berlin, ‘of course’ –
The Minister assured that he would of course in Germany to discuss with his counterpart Wolfgang Schaeuble in Berlin and the European Central Bank (ECB) in Frankfurt, without specific dates.
For his part Mr. Tsipras will go after Cyprus on Tuesday and Wednesday in Rome in Paris (after passing through Brussels to meet the EU executive).
These two great capitals, run by leftist governments militate against austerity policies in Europe, and appear as allies of Athens.
Mr. Fir and Varoufakis largely reiterated that instead of Greece was in the euro, spreading an output of the countries in the single currency. They also swept the whole idea of divide between the northern countries led by Germany and South that would support Greece.
The Italian agency Ansa said the Italian leader Matteo Renzi and Merkel had a long interview Sunday, mainly on the Greek crisis and its consequences for the European economy
-. Key role of the ECB –
Mr. Varoufakis also explained why Greece is not the last installment loan some 7 billion expected in late February.
We desperately need the money, but for five years, Greece lived in expectation of the next loan tranche, like a drug addict, said he was wishing that refounder agreement put an end to this addiction.
Meanwhile, it is perfectly possible in agreement with the ECB, to establish the necessary liquidity, as has been done so many times in the past, not only for Greece, he said.
(© AFP / February 2, 2015 4:06)
(AFP / 02/02/2015 4:09) ^ ->
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