German Finance Minister Wolfgang
Schaeuble told lawmakers in Berlin that Greece would stay in the
euro for the time being if Greek voters reject austerity in a
referendum scheduled this week, according to three people
present cited by the Bloomberg news agency Tuesday.
Schaeuble also said the European Central Bank would do
what's needed to protect the euro if Greeks voted against the
bailout terms in the July 5 referendum, according to the people,
all of whom participated in the closed-door meeting on Tuesday.
They asked not to be identified, citing the private nature
of the discussion.
Germany's stance suggests that policy makers in Berlin are
preparing for Greeks to reject the offer by creditors for
continued aid to the euro area's most-indebted nation.
Schaeuble said in that event Greece may be able tap about
32 billion euros ($36 billion) in European Union support funding
to boost its economy, according to the participants.
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