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Athens Macedonian News Agency: News in English, 14-01-09
CONTENTS
[01] MEP Elmar Brok: Germany will stand by Greece
[01] MEP Elmar Brok: Germany will stand by Greece
ANA-MPA - Germany has "decided to show its solidarity to Greece and
this is resolved," Europarliament Foreign Affairs Committee chairman
Elmar Brok, said after his meeting on Thursday with Government Vice
President and Foreign Minister Evangelos Venizelos.
Brok said that the troika of Greece's lenders - "who made mistakes but
there was no crisis solution handbook," therefore "he who is without
sin should cast the first stone" - will pass through many audits at
Europarliament. He also noted that the difficulty lies in creating a
balance "among reforms, economic activity and political burden".
Brok stated that he supports the idea of an extension of the
favourable-interest period to facilitate the sustainability of the Greek
debt. He also underlined that the Europarliament is planning to organise
a hearing on the maritime law, before the euroelections.
On the Greek crisis, Brok noted that the "exit from the tunnel will be so
bright that the Greek citizens will see it," pointing indirectly at those
political leaders who chose not to attend the events for the assumption
of Greece's EU presidency and chose instead to isolate themselves.
Regarding the migration issue within EU and speculations over restrictions
on European citizens' movement, Brok clarified his previous statements,
saying that he does not agree with the opinion that the borders must be
shut down. "Borders in Europe have opened and this is a new situation,"
he said.
On his part, Venizelos noted that "in 2009 the Greek government was
before a dilemma: either of the course towards a disorderly default or
of a conditional cooperation with the EU" adding that "the selection
was difficult". But, as he said, it "was taken by the Greek people, who
with a clear majority indicated a specific strategy, which is difficult
and painful but safer than the other choice. The end of the story will
vindicate the people's selection".
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