Athens Macedonian News Agency: News in English, 13-08-25
CONTENTS
[01] Asmussen: Early for discussion on new haircut
[01] Asmussen: Early for discussion on new haircut
European Central Bank board member Joerg Asmussen expressed his opinion
that it is early for a discussion on a new haircut of the Greek debt
in an interview with Sunday newspaper "To Vima" and estimated that the
"continuous discussions on the debt's reduction do not help".
He said that in his opinion Eurogroup's decision 27 November 2012 answers
to the debt reduction issue and to the alleged third support package.
Asmussen stressed that 2015-2016 fiscal gap issue is important "We must
see how large it will be and to discuss on how it will be covered within
the framework of the Mid-Term Programme. We need a credible Mid-Term
programme in order Greece to return to the markets" he said adding that
"I understand the difficult political situation and the slim parliamentary
majority but all those succeeded with so much political pain should not
be destroyed'.
Referring to the reforms, he noted that Ťa lot have been done but also
a lot remain to be done" and admitted that the unemployment rate in
Greece is unacceptable. The German banker pointed that the efforts should
focus on restruction changes and on the strengthening of competitiveness
in order work positions to be created, particularly for the young and
estimated that "the primary surplus target is feasible as well as a low
but positive growth rate in 2014.
Asmussen sounded the bell of complacency for the eurozone after the
recent positive developments for the exit from the crisis and said that
International Monetary Fund's (IMF) presence is necessary for the troika.
Finally, referring to the banking association he called it "the greatest
institutional reform after the introduction of the euro.
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