BRUSSELS (MNI) – Greek caretaker Prime Minister Panayiotis
Pikrammenos said that his EU counterparts reaffirmed their commitment to
help Greece stay in the Eurozone and that no discussion of a possible
EMU exit had been raised.

Speaking at a press conference after an informal EU Summit dinner
here, Pikrammenos said he had informed the leaders of the political
situation in Greece as well as the need for an imminent growth plan that
will help the troubled country combat high unemployment and a 5-year
long recession.

“From the bilateral meetings I had with Mr. Barroso, Mr. Van
Rompuy, Mr. Hollande and Mrs. Merkel, I got the assurances that our
partners want Greece to remain in the Eurozone and that they will
continue to support us. But we must fulfill our obligations,” the prime
minister said.

“For my part, I stressed the importance of imminent growth measures
and the further involvement of the European Investment Bank,” he added.

Pikrammenos said the EU leaders had discussed a pilot program for
so-called “project bonds” and stressed that Greece must be part it.

Asked whether there were discussions or suggestions that Greece
should go ahead with a referendum on its euro membership, the premier
said “no” and added that during his meeting with German Chancellor
Angela Merkel, “she was stunned and dismayed” when she heard about the
various scenarios floating around.

Pikrammenos was commenting on a recent report that the EWG had
asked Eurozone countries to prepare contingency plans in case Greece
leaves the euro.

Asked whether the leaders reached a decision on the issue of
Eurobonds, the caretaker Greek prime minister characterized both the
discussions on a Tobin tax and on Eurobonds as “general.”

“I don’t think we will be reaching a decision on Eurobonds any time
soon. Even those who favor them understand that such a possibility will
come at the end of a long process and after the EU matures,” Pikrammenos
said.

At the end of the press conference, Greece’s acting Finance
Minister George Zannias was asked whether the EU leaders had discussed
the possibility of an extension in the timeframe for Greece’s fiscal
consolidation program. Zannias said that although the issue was not
raised, such an extension “would help Greece.” But a longer adjustment
period would also mean “more funds from the EU,” he stressed.

“The EU is the one to make that decision,” Zannias said.

–Brussels Newsroom, a_papamiltiadou@hotmail.com

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