(ANSAmed) - BRUSSELS, FEBRUARY 6 - Greece is taking more time to
find a solution on the new reforms and cuts Europe is asking
for. This decision goes against the will of Brussels which has
already given Greece as much time as it could, and was received
with scepticism by the eurozone and particularly by Merkel, who
said she does not understand ''what good another day will do."
Europe has made it clear that it is not time Greece needs to
avoid a default, but a clear decision that will lead to an
agreement with the country's private creditors as soon as
possible, because there no longer is a time limit, ''this limit
has already been crossed."
''Greece has already crossed the time limit set by the EU'' on
closing the negotiations with private creditors to restructure
the debt, ''I delay that cannot be ignored,'' said the
spokesperson of EU Economic Affairs Commissioner Olli Rehn
today. Every minute counts now and the swap of Greek bonds must
be completed by February 13 to avoid a default on March 20, when
14.5 billion in bonds will reach maturity.
So the Greek government has to reach an agreement with the
troika on reforms and cuts, with its private creditors on losses
after the bond swap, with the Euro Group and the Greek
Parliament to improve the moves, all before the 13th. A very
tight schedule, which Greece continues to postpone.
Today France also told Greece to make haste: Greece must
''take its responsibilities and vote for the reforms they have
promised to make,'' German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French
President Nicolas Sarkozy said today. ''Greece must follow the
example'' of the Italian government of Mario Monti, which has
made ''spectacular progress'' in its response to the debt
crisis. Merkel and Sarkozy said that they hope Greece will
secure the interests on its debt on a blocked account.
Meanwhile, Premier Lucas Papademos continues his marathon session of meetings with the EU-ECB-IMF troika and political talks with party leaders. But today he only held talks with the troika, focusing on the open questions of minimum wage, pension cuts, thirteenth and fourteenth month's salaries and privatisations. Without an agreement, the troika will not give green light to the new 130 billion euro aid package. The Premier's meeting with the parties has been postponed to tomorrow, delaying a solution by another day. ''I don't understand what they need more days for, time is of the essence, there is much at stake for the entire Eurozone,'' said Merkel.
(ANSAmed).
Meanwhile, Premier Lucas Papademos continues his marathon session of meetings with the EU-ECB-IMF troika and political talks with party leaders. But today he only held talks with the troika, focusing on the open questions of minimum wage, pension cuts, thirteenth and fourteenth month's salaries and privatisations. Without an agreement, the troika will not give green light to the new 130 billion euro aid package. The Premier's meeting with the parties has been postponed to tomorrow, delaying a solution by another day. ''I don't understand what they need more days for, time is of the essence, there is much at stake for the entire Eurozone,'' said Merkel.
(ANSAmed).
