Greece hopes Samaras' trip to EU will stop flood of criticism
Source: AFP |
August 27, 2012, Monday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
GREECE voiced hope yesterday that a charm offensive around Europe by Prime Minister Antonis Samaras will halt a barrage of criticism as it labors to put delayed reforms on track and restore its credibility.
Samaras met in succession with key European Union leaders German Chancellor Angela Merkel, French President Francois Hollande and Eurogroup chief Jean-Claude Juncker to stress that his government intended to honor its commitments to EU and IMF creditors.
"I'd like to believe that the meetings enabled us to slowly reverse a climate that existed against our homeland," Samaras told NET radio.
"I repeat, slowly, because everyone is asking for proof that we are changing course. The effort will continue."
Political commentator Panagiotis Panagiotou told state TV NET: "The main goal was to say 'you have a credible interlocutor, that a new start has been made. And secondly, to stop talk that Greece will be tossed out of the eurozone."
The meetings came as Samaras' coalition government prepares for a battle in parliament in the autumn to push through reform legislation that could test the cohesion of his socialist and moderate leftist allies.
A technical team from the auditor mission that monitors Greece's reform progress on behalf of its 'troika' of creditors - the EU, IMF and the European Central Bank - also returns to Athens this week.
The auditors are working with Greek officials to finalise a cuts package of 11.5 billion euros (US$14.3 billion) in 2013 and 2014.
A positive report from the 'troika' is vital for Greece to get the next 31.5 billion euro installment of funds, part of a 130-billion-euro bailout.
In his first foreign tour since becoming PM, Samaras called in Berlin and Paris for a halt in "toxic" statements which he said were hampering the country's efforts to attract investors.
"In recent weeks Greece had become a punching bag for the Germans, the Finns, the Dutch," noted commentator Antonis Papagiannidis.
Samaras met in succession with key European Union leaders German Chancellor Angela Merkel, French President Francois Hollande and Eurogroup chief Jean-Claude Juncker to stress that his government intended to honor its commitments to EU and IMF creditors.
"I'd like to believe that the meetings enabled us to slowly reverse a climate that existed against our homeland," Samaras told NET radio.
"I repeat, slowly, because everyone is asking for proof that we are changing course. The effort will continue."
Political commentator Panagiotis Panagiotou told state TV NET: "The main goal was to say 'you have a credible interlocutor, that a new start has been made. And secondly, to stop talk that Greece will be tossed out of the eurozone."
The meetings came as Samaras' coalition government prepares for a battle in parliament in the autumn to push through reform legislation that could test the cohesion of his socialist and moderate leftist allies.
A technical team from the auditor mission that monitors Greece's reform progress on behalf of its 'troika' of creditors - the EU, IMF and the European Central Bank - also returns to Athens this week.
The auditors are working with Greek officials to finalise a cuts package of 11.5 billion euros (US$14.3 billion) in 2013 and 2014.
A positive report from the 'troika' is vital for Greece to get the next 31.5 billion euro installment of funds, part of a 130-billion-euro bailout.
In his first foreign tour since becoming PM, Samaras called in Berlin and Paris for a halt in "toxic" statements which he said were hampering the country's efforts to attract investors.
"In recent weeks Greece had become a punching bag for the Germans, the Finns, the Dutch," noted commentator Antonis Papagiannidis.
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