Athens Macedonian News Agency: News in English, 15-01-30

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From: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr/>

CONTENTS

[01] FinMin: Gov't will propose reduction of primary surpluses

[02] EU's Katainen urges Greece to stick to reforms

[01] FinMin: Gov't will propose reduction of primary surpluses

Our task, the minister said, is not to get the remaining 7 billion euro loan tranche from the current programme, which would be merely "kicking the can down the road" but to "rethink the whole programme."

"All we're asking is for," he said, "is an opportunity to put together a proposal that will minimize the costs of Greece's loan agreement and give this country a chance to breathe again after policies that created massive social depravity."

[02] EU's Katainen urges Greece to stick to reforms

"We expect them to fulfill all the commitments they have promised to do," Katainen told German broadcaster Deutschlandfunk in English, adding that the European Commission had to make sure all member states were treated equally and agreements were respected.

But Katainen did not rule out extending the deadline for carrying out reforms.

"I have not said that the deadlines should not be extended. I simply said that the sooner Greece implements reforms, the sooner new jobs will be created," he said.

The Finnish EU commissioner, who is responsible for employment and economic growth, said he hoped Greece and its euro zone partners would find a compromise.

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