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Athens Macedonian News Agency: News in English, 15-06-28
CONTENTS
[01] French PM Manuel Valls: 'Agreement is still possible'
[01] French PM Manuel Valls: 'Agreement is still possible'
PARIS (ANA-MPA/ O. Tsipira) An agreement was still possible, French
Prime Minister Manuel Valls said in an interview to French media on
Sunday, urging the Greek government to return to the negotiating table.
"A deal is still possible, I invite the Greek government to come back
to the negotiation table," Valls told Europe 1, Le Monde and iTELE
in a joint interview. "I cannot resign myself to Greece leaving the
eurozone. We must find a solution." He also underlined his conviction
that ECB funding to Greek banks should be continued, even if Greece
misses the June 30 payment to the IMF.
"The European Central Bank is independent, but I don't doubt it will
assume its responsibilities. I don't think it can cut off support,
to put it another way," Valls said, adding that "This is not something
that we want."
"It is the Greek people who are suffering now. Don't add to that," he
pointed out, saying that it now behooved the ECB to independently assume
its responsibilities to provide financial support over the coming days,
when it would undoubtedly be needed. The French prime minister also
underlined that "we will do everything to keep Greece in the eurozone
and this means respect to Greece and to democracy but also respect for
European rules. We continue to believe, with Francois Hollande and
Michel Sapin, that an agreement is still possible. I urge the Greek
government to return to the negotiating table," he said. Even though
Europe might be able to overcome the Greek issue, Valls added, "the
repercussions on a political and economic level are unknown to all."
Regarding the referendum on July 5, Valls warned that there was a real
danger that a negative vote might lead to Greece's exit from the euro and
the Greek government must take responsibility for its choices. "What is
at stake is staying in or exiting the euro zone," he underlined. "If
there is a negative vote, there is a real risk of exiting the eurozone."
"The Greeks are a sovereign people. France did everything to find a
solution, we played our role. The Greek government decided unilaterally
to break off the negotiations.
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