Athens Macedonian News Agency: News in English, 15-06-08

Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

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

CONTENTS

[01] Die Welt : The issue of Greece ruins Merkel's summit agenda

[02] Creditors' text a manifesto of social genocide, says parliament vice president Mitropoulos

[03] Varoufakis, Schaeuble meeting underway in Berlin

[04] Coordinator of negotiation group Tsakalotos in Brussels on Monday

[01] Die Welt : The issue of Greece ruins Merkel's summit agenda

Merkel wanted to "Merkelise" the world in the G7 meeting, but her plan to close the thorny Greek issue before the summit has failed, the paper said. The Chancellor had invested considerable political capital on Greece last week, ahead of the summit, but there's one thing she still doesn't know after the intense diplomatic effort: If Greek Prime Minister will come to an agreement with the Europeans and if his party will follow him.  

  According to the paper, Merkel's biggest fear is that Germany will be considered primarily responsible even for a possible Greek exit from the euro. "The motto will be: Germany, the country responsible for two world wars in the 20th century, which committed heinous crimes in Greece, is now pressuring the country out of the heart of the EU, the monetary union." 

The article also says the German leader wanted to discuss other topics in the summit and achieve a small but positive progress. The plan was to "Merkelise" the world. But after the developments of the past week on Greece, Merkel is in despair: U.S. President Barack Obama, the IMF, even her own party, as well as her finance minister put huge pressure on her – but towards different directions. 

Die Welt also claims that Merkel's main problem is the widening gap between her views and those of Wolfgang Schaeuble. A Grexit was never a serious option for the Chancellor, but the finance minister, wanting to protect European rules, argues that "bigger flexibility will have more serious repercussions than a Greek bankruptcy."  The rift between the two widened this week. German paper Bild reported that Schaeuble may resign if Merkel makes major concessions. The report was denied, but for most analysts the issue exists.  

[02] Creditors' text a manifesto of social genocide, says parliament vice president Mitropoulos

"I have the feeling that the creditors will not retreat, that we are in a very difficult phase of the Greek issue. From their style, from their words, from their audacity and their irony yesterday, I think that, based on the text of February 20, are not willing to back down," he said.

As for the creditors' proposal, he said that "it is surprising and has shocked all Greeks that after four months of negotiations the creditors had the audacity, had the right to present this harsh text which is essentially a manifesto of social genocide."

Referring to the government's proposal, he admitted that "is clearly distant from our programmatic positions" and added "our proposal has also difficulties, in all units."

Finally, Mitropoulos noted that it would be unpleasant for the government to go to early elections.

[03] Varoufakis, Schaeuble meeting underway in Berlin

There will be no statements after the meeting.

In the evening, Varoufakis will address an event at the Hans Boeckler Institute on the issue "Greece's future in the European Union."

[04] Coordinator of negotiation group Tsakalotos in Brussels on Monday

Tsakalotos will be accompanied by the president of the council of economy experts Giorgos Houliarakis.

Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article