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Athens Macedonian News Agency: News in English, 15-06-30
CONTENTS
[01] PM Tsipras continues contacts with top EU officials
[01] PM Tsipras continues contacts with top EU officials
ANA/MPA--Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras continues his contacts with
European officials. Tsipras has already spoken on the phone with European
Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker, ECB president Mario Draghi
and European Parliament president Martin Schulz. On Monday evening
Tsipras in a interview with the state broadcaster ERT stressed that
his government is "facing threats calmly", ahead of a snap July
5 referendum he called over creditors' last proposal to the Greek
government. Tsipras appeared during a nationally televised interview
on Greek state television (ERT). He criticized partners, as he said,
for directing an ultimatum to the country, with Greek voters now called
on to decide. Moreover, he again reiterated his position for a "no"
vote during the Sunday referendum. Greek citizens will be asked whether
they approve, or don't approve, of the last proposal presented to the
Greek government by institutional creditors -- the European Commission,
the European Central Bank and the International Monetary Fund. "We call
on you to reject it with all the power of your soul," Tsipras said,
in a statement directed to voters. He also underlined that he believes
the proposal by the Institutions is not viable. In answer to questions
by two ERT journalists, Tsipras also assessed that the goal of the
Greek government is to use a "no" vote as a tool and leverage in its
negotiating effort. Moreover, he emphasized that the Greek people will
survive without a bailout programme this week and will head to the polls
on Sunday. "We're not going to bury democracy in the land where it was
born because a (bailout) programme ends," he said. In touching on the
serious issue entailed with this week's bank holiday, Tsipras said the
development arose because the Institutions decided not to extend the
bailout programme (it ends on June 30). "I do not believe that they
(Euro zone partners) will throw us out of the euro, and they won't do
this," he said, adding that the cost of a possible "Grexit" would be
huge. At the same time, he insisted, as he said, on urging partners
to "return to realism", explaining that his government has covered
creditors' demands with equivalent revenue measures. While admitting
that some of these measures may be recessionary, he nevertheless
said his government accepted certain measures in a bid to reach an
agreement. "They (creditors) don't want a collapse of the euro zone, they
want the collapse of hope; they want to reduce the political capital of
a government that promised to change things," Tsipras said, responding
to a question on why creditors constantly demanded new measures, as
he said earlier. "The Greek government does not want an exit or the
breakup of the euro zone, but we will do whatever we can to ensure
the survival of the Greek people," he stressed. "A people, a country
doesn't go bankrupt, banks go bankrupt". In answer to other questions,
he said there was no other text presented at the last Eurogroup session,
whereas another proposal was subsequently unveiled by the Institutions a
day after the Greek government tabled the motion in Parliament to declare
a referendum. He charged that this proposal, made after the referendum
was announced, was different only on the points dealing with VAT rates
for hotels. At the time, the Greek premier said, the Commission proposal
was not its own, but belonged to the IMF. He also said that during the
entire period when negotiations were underway, the Institutions were
not even in agreement amongst themselves. Touching on the background
behind his decision to announce a referendum, he said he briefed the
Institutions over his government's intent to hold the plebiscite on
creditors' proposal. Asked about responses, he said they were "not
negative", and that discussions were held in a positive mood. He also
disclosed that he requested the extension, while briefing them over the
referendum. A rejection of the request by the Eurogroup on Saturday
was a negative surprise, he noted. Queried as to what the "next day"
entailed if voters opted for a "yes" in the referendum, Tsipras said
he will respect the popular decision and proceed towards turning it
into law. As per his own political future amid such a development,
i.e. a "yes" vote, he responded that he is "an all-weather prime
minister". Tsipras said people remained calm in the country, even
in the face of the bank holiday and capital controls, after the ECB
decision not to raise the ELA ceiling for Greek systemic banks. Along
those lines, he estimated that Greek banks will reopen within hours
after the conclusion of the referendum. He repeatedly emphasized that
Greece's volition is to remain in the euro zone, asking: "Who can cut
Greece off from Europe? Greece is in the heart of Europe and will remain
in the heart of Europe." In answer to questions referring to political
opposition criticism, he said "we did what we promised", pointing to what
he said were very tough negotiations with creditors. When asked about
his "Thessaloniki programme" for growth in the country, made while he
was in the opposition in 2014, Tsipras said the programme is beginning
to be implemented, "despite the fact that the government has a gun to
its temple". He gave examples an installment plan for tax arrears and
measures to deal with the "humanitarian crisis". "We're amid conditions
of an economic strangulation," he stressed, in deflecting criticism
that his government has not abolished an unpopular property tax (ENFIA)
it has promised in the pre-election campaign, for instance. In terms
of other questions, he appeared open to the prospect of a debate with
other political leaders. Additionally, he provided political cover
for FinMin Yanis Varoufakis, saying that had he lost confidence in the
latter, Varoufakis would not be his minister today. On the same issue,
he said Varoufakis has been the target of attacks, accepting also that
the latter may have made mistakes. He disputed criticism that he placed
his party above the country. "If the people want a prime minister
that is humiliated and shamed, let them select one; there are many
(candidates), but I am not one of them." Finally, in a comment directed
towards Greece's partners, he said the country insists on a viable
solution. "Our differences in terms of fiscal matters are non-existent;
in terms of other issues, they are very significant. If they provide
us with a solution, even at the last minute, we'll take it."
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