Monday, February 14, 2011

EU, IMF voice support for Greek government

Associated Press/Bloomberg
February 13, 2011

The international organizations supervising Greece's efforts to overhaul its debt-ridden economy have voiced support for the Greek government and its people, after Athens slammed the organizations for what it called interference in its domestic affairs.

The International Monetary Fund, European Central Bank and European Commission statement, issued just before midnight Saturday, appeared designed to dampen Greek tempers that frayed following a visit by the three to review the progress toward economic reform.

The three said they "recognize the difficult challenges facing the Greek economy and we have the deepest respect for the tremendous efforts being made by the Greek people."

The Greek government a day earlier reacted harshly to a news conference in which the three institutions — known collectively by Greeks as the troika — said Greece must privatize euro50 billion ($68 billion) in state assets and speed up structural reforms in the next few months to keep the country's troubled finances afloat.

More

No comments: