BERLIN (MNI) – German Chancellor Angela Merkel is “very optimistic”
that the Slovakian parliament will approve the enhancement of the
European Financial Stability Facility (EFSF) before the EU summit on
October 23, a spokesman said Wednesday.

“The Chancellor is very optimistic [that all Eurozone states] will
have signed [onto the EFSF changes] until October 23,” government
spokesman Georg Streiter said at a regular press conference here.

Regarding the next tranche of fiscal aid for Greece, finance
ministry spokesman Martin Kotthaus said at the same press conference
that Germany was now waiting for the full report on Greece by the troika
of the IMF, ECB and EU Commission.

“The troika statement shows in a general fashion — without
concrete numbers — light and shadow,” Kotthaus remarked. “We are
waiting now for the report, which must be evaluated, and then the
Eurogroup will decide” if the next tranche of EU-IMF aid will be paid
out, he said.

–Berlin bureau: +49-30-22 62 05 80; email: twidder@marketnews.com

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