Berlin freezes Athens, “no extension of the loan” – AGI – Agenzia Journalistic Italy

Berlin freezes Athens, "no extension of the loan" – AGI – Agenzia Journalistic Italy

Foreign

23:34 February 19, 2015

(AGI) – Rome, February 19 – The Greek request for an extension of six months of the aid program – on paper an approach to the demands of Brussels – would actually ‘a “Trojan horse” with “enormous room for interpretation” in order to obtain a bridge loan. And ‘what you would read in the text prepared by Germany in view of the Eurogroup tomorrow and circulated informally tonight.
The letter submitted by the executive greek Eurogroup does not contain a “clear freezing” of the election promises of Tsipras ( such as raising the minimum wage and the blocking of property tax) and therefore would not emerge a “commitment to a successful conclusion of the program currently in force.” According to Germany, therefore, “it makes no sense draft a document for the Eurogroup of tomorrow.” The document also calls for the provision does not extend to 10.9 billion for the recapitalization of Greek banks as they have passed the stress test of the ECB. It ‘a line, this in Germany, which would also soften the space opened today between Prime Minister Tsipras and German Chancellor, Angela Merkel, who had a telephone conversation “constructive” and in a “positive atmosphere”, according to reports by a government official in Athens, to “find a satisfactory solution both for Greece and for the eurozone.” Today in Brussels, the long-awaited letter arrived in Athens with the request of the six-month extension, the president of the Eurogroup Jeroen Dijsselbloem convened for tomorrow at 15 the meeting of finance ministers. Meanwhile, the reactions followed have been conflicting.
“We see positive signs in the request of Greece, that can open the way to a reasonable compromise in the interest of stability ‘financial across the euro zone,” said the spokesman of’ EU executive, Margaritis Schinas, adding that “the letter sent by the government greek requires the extension of Financial Assistence Master Facility Agreement, and that ‘the legal term to describe overall the current program.” Diametrically opposite tones used by Martin Jaeger, spokesman Wolfgang Schaeube, according to which the request for Athens “does not meet the criteria agreed Monday ‘Eurogroup’, ‘not’ a substantial solution” and it ” a finanziamento- bridge that is not respecting fully the conditions of the aid program. ” The request in Brussels, Athens is committed to maintaining “balanced budget” in the six-month extension of the financial assistance program. Meanwhile start ‘negotiations to reduce debt and to start a program of long-term economic growth. “The government – explain officials – did not request an extension of the bailout. We sent a proposal in accordance with the mandate from the people, de fending our dignity ‘social and that, at the same time, is acceptable from our partners.” The Greek Government has stated that the request for extension does not affect the current bailout, but more ‘general financial aid which should allow Greece more’ time to negotiate “without blackmail” a new agreement with Europe. Furthermore, the government asks Tsipras debt reduction, which refers explicitly to the commitment of the 2012 European finance ministers. It includes commitments to tackle tax evasion and corruption to fight the “humanitarian crisis” allowing the economy to start again.
Finally, reassuring statements come from the Greek central bank: withdrawals at branches are “under control “and there would be no attack on the ATMs in these crucial hours, said the central bank governor Hellenic Yannis Stournaras after a meeting with the Deputy Prime Minister Yannis Dragasakis, which for its part has assured&# 8221; everything possible to safeguard and strengthen the stability ‘of the financial system “of the country. Dragasakis added that his government does not move “against Germany” but “will not do ‘anything that violates the popular mandate.” (AGI).

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