Ray of hope in debt dispute with Greece – Reuters Germany

Ray of hope in debt dispute with Greece – Reuters Germany

       

– Matthias Sobolewski and George Georgiopoulos

       

Berlin / Athens (Reuters) – The debt dispute with Greece, there is a glimmer of hope. The Greek government announced that it would ask the euro countries still on Wednesday for an extension of their rescue loans.

       However,

remained open whether this will be enough to creditors. So insisted Federal Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble already that the new government in Athens is also committed to the reform requirements for rescue billion. The European Commission, meanwhile, sought frantically for a solution before expires on Friday issued an ultimatum to the euro-zone. The prospect of an agreement inspired the exchanges.

       

The information carried by law, regulation or link populists Greek Government rejects the recent reform requirements, risks without the continued support of the euro countries and the IMF but a government default. The current utility ends on February 28th. “We are at a crucial point of these negotiations,” said Greece’s new Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras. He hoped that difficulties could be overcome. For the first time it had managed to produce a “positive attitude to our wishes.”

       

Government spokesman Gabriel Sakellaridis told the station “Antenna TV”: “Let us today on a motion for extension of the credit agreement wait, will provide the Minister of Finance Yanis Varoufakis.” It was noticeable that he only spoke of a “Credit Agreement” and the reforms did not mention. Schaeuble said on Tuesday evening at the ZDF, there is no credit agreement but a tool. Separation of loans and reform regulations come for the federal government in no case in question, it said in German government circles.

       

Schaeuble said Greece must comply with the conditions for the aid, so that the local economy is recovering, “It’s not a n extension of loan programs, but whether this (auxiliary) program will be met, yes or no.” The government in Athens, he accused: “Now the people are incited by false promises.” He’d done hopes: “At the same time telling others are to blame for the problems this has really little to do with the truth..”

       

Greece is in its euro partners and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) with 240 billion euros in debt. Germany guaranteed loans of around 53 billion euros and indirectly liable for loans from the IMF and the Hellenic government bonds in the portfolio of the ECB. In a state bankruptcy, much of the guarantees would be due. Schaeuble said in other EU countries, the per capita income is lower than in Greece. At the same time they have to make solidarity at the expense of their taxpayers. Asked whether Greece should leave the euro zone, he replied: “That is one thing that is decided exclusively in Greece.”

       

In circles of the EU Commission, the German attitude was described as hartleibig. However, the euro finance ministers agreed on Monday unanimously on five criteria on which a request for assistance Greece will have to be measured: How recent reforms may not be turned back and alternative measures will not break the budget. In addition, the creditor must be operated and the Athens government must work together with the reform of EU auditors, ECB and IMF. Finally, the outgoing utility must be properly terminated after a thorough examination.

       

Continued …