Greece, Merkel at the Parliament: “A deal is still possible” – The Republic

MILAN – The German chancellor, Angela Merkel , wearing the clothes of the fireman and said he was “convinced” that an agreement between Greece and creditors “it is still possible.” He does speaking to Members of the Bundestag, its parliament, in the aftermath of the new positions radicals by Alexis Tsipras and on the day of a Eurogroup that, given the conditions of the vigil, will not bring any breakthrough in the negotiations between Athens and international lenders, called respectively to make a plan of reform and unlock economic aid to at least 7.2 billion.

“I remain convinced that when you want to, you can,” said Merkel still. “If those responsible Greeks have this will, an agreement is possible,” but Greece has to “engage in a decisive structural reform promises,” he added. “Greece was on track but has not completed the process. Unfortunately it has again and again postponed a number of important reforms,” ​​he explained in relation to the process that began with the Troika and then stopped for a clear electoral success of Syriza. “These reforms are not only a prerequisite for closing the second program – he added – but they are also the precondition for the aid can have a sustainable effect.” For Chancellor “unlike Athens, Portugal, Ireland and Spain have faced the programs and are back on their feet.” He also reiterated the concept expressed several times in recent days, when she was one of the few politicians to moderate the tone: “The efforts are aimed at Germany that Greece remains in the euro. We want people in Greece, as happened to the People in Ireland, Portugal and Spain, have a better perspective. “

At the start of the Eurogroup, meanwhile, emerge rumors of a possible breakthrough in negotiations. They come from the Greek newspaper Kathimerini , for which the EU Commission and the ECB would be working on the draft of a possible statement for debt restructuring if Greece will make an agreement with the creditors. A possibility that the President of the Euro has not ruled out, but Jeron Dijsselbloem added: “Restructuring alone if necessary.” The Minister of Economy, Pier Carlo Padoan , coming to Luxembourg for the summit merely answer “no” when asked if he was concerned about the state of negotiations. The spokesman for the EU Commission, Margaritis Schinas, on a possible Grexit meanwhile continues to keep the line of the “irreversibility” of the euro.

Peacemaker the intent of the Greek Minister Yanis Varoufakis , arriving to the summit made it clear that the goal is “to replace an expensive dissent with an effective consensus”. The fate of Athens also intervened Christine Lagarde , the director of the IMF, which made it clear that it will end in default from 1 July compared to the debts to the International Monetary Fund if not reimburse the 1.6 billion due Fund as repayment of loans by June 30. Lagarde for the deadline is final, there is a period of ‘grace’ nor the possibility of postponement: “It will be in default, will be in arrears in respect of the IMF by July 1 but I hope it is not so.”

Arguments:

Greece

Greek crisis

Starring:

Angela Merkel

Alexis Tsipras