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Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 15-07-12Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr/>Weekend News BulletinSunday, july 12, 2015 CONTENTS
[01] PM Tsipras meeting with Merkel, Hollande and Tusk in BrusselsA new meeting is being held in Brussels among Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, French President Francois Hollande and President of the European Council Donald Tusk, government sources said early on Monday morning.[02] PM Tsipras has phone contact with US Treasury Secretary LewPrime Minister Alexis Tsipras on Sunday had a phone contact with US Treasury Secretary Jack Lew. Tsipras told Lew that to have an agreement all sides must want it. Greece has proved that wants it, he said.An agreement can be sustainable, reiterated Tsipras, when it respects the Greek people and all those that have gone through in the last five years. [03] US Treasury Sec. Lew: Greece has shown political volitionGreece has done substantial moves and has attested the political volition for the implementation of difficult reforms, said on Sunday US Treasury Secretary Jack Lew after speaking on the phone with Greek prime minister Alexis Tsipras. Lew said that he is closely watching the developments in Brussels and that the informations for a agreement are very encouraging. However, additional effort is needed, said in his announcement.He noted that it will be in Greece, Europe and the world economy's interest all sides to succeed a constructive result that will set Greece on the course of necessary reforms, sustainable debt and growth within the eurozone. [04] Eurogroup will not issue an announcement after the end of the meeting, said European sources to ANA-MPABRUSSELS (ANA-MPA/ Ch. Vassilaki) ---There will not be issue a joint announcement after the Eurogroup meeting, according to ANA-MPA information. The same sources said that Eurogroup president Jeroen Dijsselbloem has been authorised to brief the country leaders of the eurozone on what was orally agreed at the Eurogroup meeting.[05] Europarliament president: If we fail to solve the Greek problem then the eurozone will be at stakeBRUSSELS (ANA-MPA/ M. Spinthourakis) ---Europarliament President Martin Schulz called on Sunday all the leaders of eurozone's state members to find solutions for Greece immediately, underlining that time is running out.If we fail to solve the Greek crisis eurozone's future will be at stake, he said during a press conference adding that we must solve the problem without humiliating Greece and the Greek people. Referring to the idea for the establishment of a organisation that would develop the Greek public assets, Schulz said that it was Jean Claude Juncker's idea which, as he said, Greece could accept it under the condition that it would have the organisation's management. [06] Jean-Claude Juncker: We will find the solution even if we have to fight for itWe will try to find a solution till the last possible moment, European Commission President Jean Claude Juncker said to the press upon his arrival to the EU Summit on Sunday."I hope that we will find this solution even if we have to fight for it" added Juncker. [07] Eurogroup chief: Some big issues remain openThere has been progress but some big issues remain still open. We will now inform the country leaders that will be called to complete the procedure, Eurogroup president Jeroen Dijsselbloem said upon his arrival to the EU Summit.[08] German Chancellor Merkel: Difficult night with tough negotiationsIt will be a difficult night with tough negotiations, said German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Sunday adding that the Greek economy has got worse in the last period and noted that she is not willing to say yes to whatever agreement at all costs.The advantages should be more than the disadvantages not only for Greece but for whole the eurozone, said Chancellor Merkel. [09] Moscovici: The Greek government must do moreBRUSSELS (ANA-MPA/M. Aroni)---"We want Greece to make deep reforms as member of the eurozone" stated European Commissioner for Economic Affairs Pierre Moscovici on Sunday before the restart of the Eurogroup meeting " The discussions yesterday (Saturday) he noted were long and difficult and today we must focus on the conditions, that must be fulfilled, in order the negotiations for the new programme to start."The Greek government must do more in a short and long term period" said the French Commissioner noting that the conditions must be implemented rapidly. "We need a financially ambitious and politically realistic agreement" he said adding "The people expect from us to rise to the occasion and to secure Greece's position in the eurozone". Concluding, Moscovici said "We hope that at the end of the day we will have an agreement that will secure eurozone's integrity". [10] European Commissioner Moscovici: There was progress but some issues are still openThere was progress but some issues are still open, said European Commissioner Pierre Moscovici after the end of the Eurogroup meeting in Brussels. Greece must be reformed and must remain in the eurozone, he added. Now, it relies on the country leaders to decide, he said.[11] French gov't source: France almost the only country that supports Greece"The negotiations in the Eurogroup are difficult" said to ANA-MPA a French government source. The same source added "France is almost the only country that supports Greece".[12] President Hollande: There is no temporary Grexit; France will do everything for agreementFrench President Francois Hollande indirectly disapproved German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble's proposal for temporary Grexit, upon his arrival to the EU Summit "There is no temporary Grexit. Either Greece will be in the eurozone or it will not be but if it is not then Europe will retreat and not proceed" he said.For this reason, added Hollande, France will do whatever possible an agreement to be reach today and to keep Greece in the eurozone. Greece must proceed with the necessary reforms and then Europe will support it. [13] Germany has dealt a severe blow to Europe, says Joseph StiglitzGermany has "dealt a severe blow to Europe" with its stance on the Greek crisis, stated economist Joseph Stiglitz in an interview to AFP."If ECB allows the Greek banks to reopen and an agreement is reached, then the wounds may heal but if Germany use it to again exclude Greece then, I believe, the damages will be very, very deep". [14] Gov't sources denied that German FM set Grexit issueGovernment sources denied that German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble has set a Grexit issue at the Eurogroup meeting that is underway in Brussels.According to a German Finance Minister internal document published in the Sunday edition of Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, Germany is not satisfied by the Greek proposals and recommended two other options for Greece. The first option is ?Greece to improve its proposals with the total support of the parliament" adding among others that Greece should transfer its asset to a Fund that will sell them off and the revenues will be used to pay off the debt. The second option foresees 'negotiations with Athens for a "time out". Greece will leave from the eurozone for five years at least and restructures its debt. It remains member of the European Union and continues to receive 'technical, humanitarian and growth support". The German Finance Ministry's internal document also said that "Key-reforms with aim the country's modernisation lack from the Greek proposals as well as a long term promotion of the financial development and sustainable growth" and for this reason the proposals "can't become a basis for, a totally new, three-year programme from the European Stability Fund (ESM). [15] Gov't sources: Some countries do not want the agreementGovernment sources said early Sunday regarding the developments at the Eurogroup meeting that was interrupted after midnight and resumed on Sunday, that it is clear that some countries, for reasons not related with the reforms and the Greek programme, do not want an agreement.The same sources noted that "while there was in principle agreement, a group of countries insisted on the issue of credibility, without however specifying what exactly they want". "It is clear that some countries do not want the agreement" noted the same sources. [16] German President Gauck: I can't imagine a eurozone without GreeceBERLIN (ANA-MPA/ F. Karaviti)---I refuse to imagine a eurozone without Greece, stated German President Joachim Gauck, in an interview to ZDF that will be shown later on Sunday.The statement was posted on twitter by one of the journalists that interviewed Gauck. [17] Italian PM Renzi: We are closer to an agreementThe condition continues to be extremely complicated, Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi said upon his arrival to the EU Summit. We are closer now to an agreement. It is necessary a solution to be found for Greece.[18] Russia is willing to support the Greek economy by direct exports of oil and natural gas, says Energy MinisterMOSCOW (ANA-MPA/ Th. Avgerinos)---Russia wishes to contribute in the restructuring of the Greek economy by offering facilitations through direct exports of hydrocarbons, oil and natural gas to Greece, stated Energy Minister of Russia Alexander Novak on Sunday.He said that "the Russian Federation is willing to support in the restoration of the Greek economy via the broadening of the cooperation in the energy sector. For this reason we examine the possibility to organise direct exports of energy raw materials to Greece in the immediate future". Novak also clarified that "we are working it and we believe that we will reach an agreement within the next weeks". [19] Greece sends political message to ECB, say gov't sourcesBRUSSELS (ANA-MPA/ M. Aroni)---Government sources said that Greece's aim in today's EU Summit is to send a political message to the European Central Bank (ECB) that Greece is heading to an agreement for a new support programme.The same sources said that in this way ECB will be able to immediately increase the liquidity to the Greek banks via ELA. Regarding the negotiations at the EU Summit that is underway, government sources noted that there is a battle is held over a series of issues. The same sources said that the situation was and is polarised in both the Eurogroup and the EU Summit with the state-members divided. Germany has a very tough stance against Greece while other countries as France, Italy and Ireland are completely in favour of Greece's remaining in the eurozone. [20] Independent Greeks leader: They want our devastationThe Greek people's limit is the decision of the political leaders' under the President of Republic. It was proved that they (EU) want our devastation. That's enough" posted on his twitter Independent Greeks leader and Defence Minister Panos Kammenos.[21] ND leader to PM Tsipras: Bring an agreement to the Greek parliamentMain opposition New Democracy (ND) leader Evangelos Meimarakis made a plea to Prime Minister Alexi Tsipras "to stop the game of tactics and to "agree with partners and to bring an agreement to the national parliament in order Greece and the Greek people to continue to live in Europe".ND president who attended the European Peoples Party Summit in Brussels noted "ND is doing its national duty and for a long time is trying to persuade the Europeans that a good agreement must be reached that must and should the prime minister accept and the national parliament to vote in order Greece to remain in the eurozone". [22] ND spokesman: The only discussion that concerns ND is the country to remain in the eurozoneMain opposition New Democracy (ND) spokesman Costas Karagounis on Saturday stated that "The only discussion that concerns ND at the moment, along with all the other citizens, is an agreement to be reached in order the country to remain in the eurozone".Karagounis also noted that "this is and the message of the parliament with the strong mandate to the prime minister to close the deal". Financial news [23] Greek central banker says operation of banks will normalise once deal is achievedBank of Greece governor Yiannis Stournaras on Friday expressed optimism that the operation of banks will normalize in the next few days, as an agreement between Greece and its lenders is imminent, according to a press release by the bank employees' union OTOE.In a meeting between the union and Stournaras, the central banker said an agreement is the only way to go for the country and the economy and analyzed measures taken by the bank to secure the banking system and deal with the effects of the liquidity crunch. Commenting on the capital controls, he said their lifting will take place gradually and will happen simultaneously with the restoring of liquidity to the banks. He noted that if there's a deal with creditors, there will be no threat to the future of the country's lenders because they will soon be able to fix the problems which have been created and the climate of trust will be restored. Stournaras also said that the operation of Greek bank branches abroad is being monitored by the Bank of Greece, adding that, as long as there's a deal, they will face no problems. During the meeting, he rejected as "irresponsible rumours" reports claiming some banks may be in danger, noting that the banking system has proven credible and safe and will play a crucial role in the growth of the country's economy after the crisis has subsided. [24] Athens Headlines at a glanceAVGHI: Issue 1: Protection of the country, Issue 2: Solution of political problem.ELEFTHEROS TYPOS: Greece's fate hanging on a thread. EPOCHI: Heavy toll on society and SYRIZA. ETHNOS: Reversal of landscape in the government and the country. KATHIMERINI: Summer of burning developments. Kontranews: Alexis (Tsipras, prime minister) rescues the country. KYRIAKATIKI DIMOKRATIA: The life in euro with heavy memorandum. KYRIAKATIKOS RIZOSPASTIS: We don't choose either memorandum or bankruptcy. PRIN: 61.3 pct NO of reversal, 251 (refers to MPs vote) Yes of subordination. PROTO THEMA: All with the euro. Realnews: Agreement brings turmoil in SYRIZA. TO PARON: Heavy burden. Updates [25] Greece and creditors closer to an agreement, "Grexit" no longer a threat - sourcesBRUSSELS (ANA-MPA/M. Aroni, M. Spinthourakis) - Greece and its creditors took a significant step towards an agreement, early on Monday morning in Brussels.According to well-informed sources, the result is that the threat of a "Grexit" has been completely removed, while the conditions of Greece's financial support agreement in the short and medium term are emerging gradually. The needs of the country over the next few weeks, until a new programme is finalised, are expected to be covered by 60 billion euros in EFSM funds which remain inactive and can only be released by the approval of the 28-member EU. Also under discussion is the return to Greece of the European Central Bank (ECB) profits from Greek SMPs, while another option discussed included that of Greece taking out short-term bilateral loans with member-states of the EU. The Netherlands has expressed its opposition to helping out Greece financially if the latter does not lift what it called "unilateral actions" opposing the February 20 Eurogroup guidelines, such as rehiring staff in the public sector (public utilities and the public broadcaster ERT, and so on). There appeared however to be room for compromise, by subtracting the number of rehired staff from the hirings scheduled up to 2020. In terms of privatisations, the sources said that Greece's assets that will be transferred to a company created by the Greek state in Luxembourg must not exceed 50 billion euros cumulatively, while creditors themselves said that a maximum of 7 billion euros seemed more feasible. If a final agreement is reached, sources said, it is quite possible that the ECB can provide more liquidity to Greek banks from the ELA in the near future. They stressed however that the option must be based on a dependable agreement with Greece. In terms of the International Monetary Fund - one of the country's three creditors (known as "institutions") along with the ECB and the European Commission - the sources said that there is no issue about its withdrawal, and that it will continue to be an active lender to the Greek economy. As for the issue of the loan itself, it is quite possible that the November 2012 Eurogroup's declaration will be restated. 36, TSOCHA ST. ATHENS 115 21 GREECE - TEL: 64.00.560-63 ? FAX: 64.00.581-2 INTERNET ADDRESS: http://www.ana.gr - E-MAIL: anabul@ana gr - GENERAL DIRECTOR: Michalis Psilos Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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