Athens Macedonian News Agency: News in English, 15-07-03

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

CONTENTS

[01] Gov't Vice President Dragasakis: Limitless austerity if 'yes' prevails

[02] Head of Hellenic Banks Association: ATM's will operate throughout the bank holiday

[03] Eurogroup chief: It's up to the Greeks to decide what they will vote on Sunday

[01] Gov't Vice President Dragasakis: Limitless austerity if 'yes' prevails

The choice is crucial, said Dragasakis, if 'yes' prevails in the referendum, the austerity will be limitless. Moreover, it will indicate that the Greek people approve or at least can bear the fact that 'we live under a regime of limited sovereignty at the margins of a protectorate" and finally the revanchist and aggressive plans of a rotten political system will be supported.

If no wins then the Greek side will set under better conditions the burning issue of the debt reduction and will have greater latitude to exercise its policy. Additionally, the referendum has gained a symbolic dimension worldwide and will send a strong message for changes in Europe.

Asked on several German officials statements according to which the prevalence of 'no' will mean that Berlin will stop negotiating as well as ECB will be pressed to further cut the 'oxygen' to the Greek banks, Dragasakis said "Anyone can say whatever he wants. If they mean all that, they should state it to us clearly to see in which Europe we want to live in".

According to Dragasakis we are experiencing an 'unprecedented condition" for two reasons. Firstly, Greece is going through the sixth year of an austerity that among others, has clearly failed to make the debt sustainable, as the IMF recognised in its latest report. Secondly, the people have said that they are against austerity. "Now that the programme has ended we have the opportunity to set the debt issue more clearly" noted Dragasakis because, as he said, IMF's report and particularly its reference to the debt "changes all the facts".

Concluding Dragasakis noted that "our intention was the deal to have been reached a long time ago" and reminded the lenders' responsibilities. "It is possible a new plan for agreement to be ready on Monday morning", he said

[02] Head of Hellenic Banks Association: ATM's will operate throughout the bank holiday

[03] Eurogroup chief: It's up to the Greeks to decide what they will vote on Sunday

Dijsselbloem who is also the Dutch Finance Minister had earlier warned that a no in the referendum would set Greece on the course of exit from the eurozone.

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