FRANKFURT (MNI) – Greece is asking for more time and not for more
money, Greek Prime Minister Antonis Samaras told German daily Bild
Zeitung in an interview published Wednesday shortly before his visit to
Berlin.
“Let me be very clear: We are not asking for additional money. We
stick to our commitments and to meeting all requirements [of the bailout
program],” Samaras told the tabloid.
“We must stimulate growth because this will reduce financial gaps.
All that we want is a little breathing space to get the economy going
quickly and to increase public revenues,” he said. “More time does not
automatically mean more money.”
Germany has signalled that it is ready to make some concessions on
the timing of specific requirements but only within the currently agreed
timeframe of 2015. In contrast to Samaras, Germany argues that more time
means more money.
Samaras promised that Greece will soon have “a smaller healthier
and significantly more efficient” public sector. “I have decided that
for every ten public servants going into retirement, we will only hire
one new one.” Samaras also promised further tax and labor market reforms
to boost the country’s competitiveness.
The Greek prime minister called for more solidarity from Eurozone
partners. “We must escape this negative psychology that is like a deep
black hole,” he said. “We are progressing with structural reforms and
privatization. And it is not fair when some in Europe keep want to push
us back into that hole.”
“Greeks and Germans have much in common, We too an turn a tragedy
into a success story,” Samaras said.
–Frankfurt bureau tel.: +49-69-720142. email: jtreeck@mni-news.com
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