Athens Macedonian News Agency: News in English, 15-02-24

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From: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr/>

CONTENTS

[01] Alt. Administrative Reform Minister: Negotiation will continue

[02] German FinMin Schaeuble submits Greek request for programme extension to Bundestag

[01] Alt. Administrative Reform Minister: Negotiation will continue

"The negotiation will continue, it will not stop here," he stated and warned those who expected that the government will make a u-turn that they will be disappointed.

We are on a standby and we are waiting to see how our partners will react, he commented referring to Greece's letter with reform plans. He characterized the agreement the 'best possible' explaining that it offers the necessary time to the government to present a complete package of reforms.

"Of course we are ready for a clash," Katrougalos said noting that this is within the negotiation framework. The huge difference, he said, is that the previous government also had 'red lines' but they 'faded' whenever an e-mail arrived.

[02] German FinMin Schaeuble submits Greek request for programme extension to Bundestag

"The Federal government advocates the proposed extension, against the background of Greece's acknowledgment of its commitments and the agreement in the Eurogroup," the electronic edition of the newspaper reported.

Schaeuble, however, submitted the request awaiting Greece's reform plans and a positive review from the European Commission, the European Central Bank (ECB) and the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

"This request is submitted provided that Greece will give a first list of reform plans and the three institutions will estimate that these measures constitute a rather comprehensive starting point for a successful completion of the evaluation of the current programme," Schaeuble said and noted that the aim is the normal conclusion of the programme, but he did not rule out the possibility of additional economic aid, which will be decided during the extension.

German Finance Minister also said in his letter to the Bundestag that the given flexibility within the programme could be taken into account, while stressing the importance of the three institutions, "which until now were known as the troika."

In his letter, Schaeuble listed the concessions made by Greece in negotiations and referred to "close cooperation" with the institutions and to structural reforms in the direction of promoting growth and employment. "Greece pledged not to cancel measures already implemented and not to implement unilateral measures that would threaten the budgetary targets, the economic recovery and financial stability."

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