Athens Macedonian News Agency: News in English, 15-02-06

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

CONTENTS

[01] Gov't spokesman Sakellaridis calls for calmness after ECB's decision

[02] Eurogroup extraordinary meeting on Greece on February 11

[03] FinMin Varoufakis to meet with US Treasury top officials in Athens

[01] Gov't spokesman Sakellaridis calls for calmness after ECB's decision

Referring to the negotiations, he said that everyone agreed that time should be given to Greece. "We are going to a dialogue with a mood of understanding. Greece does not blackmail nor can it be blackmailed. It is determined to find a mutually beneficial solution," he underlined.

He pointed out that the ECB's decision will be implemented on February 11, a day before the EU summit, meaning that a Eurogroup meeting cannot be ruled out and estimated that the ECB pressure is political and exerted to all sides so that an agreement can be soon reached. This pressure, he said, may lead to a mutually beneficial solution that will not violate the red line that the government has got in the form of the mandate by the Greek people.

Sakellaridis underlined that there is no reason to worry as the Emergency Liquidity Assistance (ELA) mechanism will provide liquidity to the Greek banks and added that there are two options for the partners: Either persistence in the past or a transitory agreement with a view to finding a mutually beneficial solution.

The aim is to have the negotiation concluded by end May provided that a bridge agreement has been reached. During its policy announcements, the government will make clear its positions, time schedules and priorities along with the course of the negotiations, the government spokesman noted, stressing that the government respects the popular mandate.

Sakellaridis stated that they have not been asked to give written assurances. Asked whether they are bound by the decisions of the previous government, he said that the state has continuity, but the irrational policy does not.

He concluded that a negotiation with "a gun to our head" is not in the interests of anyone.

[02] Eurogroup extraordinary meeting on Greece on February 11

[03] FinMin Varoufakis to meet with US Treasury top officials in Athens

The meetings of US Treasury Department top officials in Athens will start on Thursday afternoon with Government Vice-President Yiannis Dragasakis, while a meeting with Economy Minister George Stathakis has yet to be finalised.

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