Athens Macedonian News Agency: News in English, 15-07-03

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

CONTENTS

[01] State Minister Pappas to ANA-MPA: Our aim is to reach an agreement

[02] Coordinator of negotiation group Tsakalotos: 'No' in referendum will bring a better solution

[01] State Minister Pappas to ANA-MPA: Our aim is to reach an agreement

"The people will go to the ballots to answer if the road of the memorandum was a success story or a catastrophe for Greece. I believe that this is a battle that the Greek people are giving for Europe and its character in order Europe to become a union of states that will be tolerant and to be re-founded on dual respect which means the respect to the commonly agreed rules as well as the respect to the democracy" he underlined.

Asked on the banks' issue, Pappas noted "The banks should open immediately and the regular financing will be restored, there is absolutely no reason, there was never a reason for liquidity limitation in banks. Our people will go to the ballots and will state their opinion to close the circle of those moves, those actions and of the selections that have provoked these huge problems to our banking system and to the Greek people's lives...because it is slowly revealed that the 'wrapping' of the euro stability was only the excuse for the imposing of certain policies that brought the country to this point.

Referring to the prevailing climate, Pappas estimated "the more someone, a media, a politician attempts to terrify the more terrified he is. The Greek people are demonstrating enviable coodheadeness and sobriety despite the drums of terror and intimidation.

Asked on European parliament president Martin Schulz's intervention, Pappas noted "The Greek people decide who will be government in Greece. Whoever wants to have an opinion on which government Greece will have, should firstly be registered on the electoral rolls and to vote with the other Greek citizens.

Called to explain Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras' phrase that he will remain institutional guarantor of the Constitution if the people vote 'yes' in the referendum, Pappas said "It means what the prime minister said. The prime minister is not a man that abandons battle and in any case he will guarantee with his stance and his actions the political and economical stability of the country.

[02] Coordinator of negotiation group Tsakalotos: 'No' in referendum will bring a better solution

Tsakalotos underlined that the lenders' package was not feasible neither it created a "shock of optimism to the economy" because it did not offer an immediate solution to the debt and the debt issue would be discussed in October and if the measures were implemented. For this reason and despite the small difference, 60 million euros, with our lenders we did not reach an agreement. If the referendum was not called we "would have to go to general elections". However, the three-week campaign period was considered bad for the economy.

The head of the coordination group said that the negotiation failed and asked from the citizens to vote "no" in order a better solution to be found. He also said that a better prospect will exist if 'no' prevails. He explained that in case of a 'yes' another political solution should come that will implement this line (the lenders' programme).

Finally, Tsakalotos recognised that it would be better "a referendum to have been called a month ago".

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