Athens Macedonian News Agency: News in English, 15-02-17

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

CONTENTS

[01] Reconstruction Min. Lafazanis: Gov't wants agreement, but rejects extension of fiscal programme

[01] Reconstruction Min. Lafazanis: Gov't wants agreement, but rejects extension of fiscal programme

Asked whether he believed an agreement could be reached, Lafazanis said that "there will be no agreement if our so-called partners insist on extending the existing fiscal programme - their name for the sinful memorandum - in any form. Then, the partners - or, really, Germany - will have made a conscious choice of a rift." He added that it would be difficult for Germany to assume the burden of such a rift because the repercussions will affect it directly.

"We are not seeking a rift," he added. "On the contrary, we want our country to stand up on its own feet. We want to safeguard our national independence, popular rule, the survival and future of our people, and, along with all these, the rights of all working people and the peoples of Europe. These goals are our plan, from beginning to end, and the lines we draw."

The government he stressed was seeking an agreement with its creditors that would "retain the government plan's unified nature and radical direction". "SYRIZA's programme cannot be split, subdivided and separated into 'good' and 'bad'," Lafazanis said, adding, "That does not mean, of course, that we expect an agreement with the partners that will include our programme in every wording. But what we are seeking is an agreement that respects democracy in our country, is entirely compatible with the programme approved by the Greek people and retains the government programme's unified nature and radical direction as is."

Asked about the country's energy policy, the minister said that the government was "looking for independent and multi-level international energy links and relations from any of the four cardinal points which can be planned and promoted without unilateral dependencies, based solely on national interest and the interests of the Greek people."

[File photo]

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