|
|
|
Athens Macedonian News Agency: News in English, 16-02-05
CONTENTS
[01] Greek officials, institutions find 'convergence points'; more
progress needed
[01] Greek officials, institutions find 'convergence points'; more
progress needed
Greek officials and the representatives of the institutions on Friday
completed a first round of negotiations on reviewing the economic policy
programme, reaching points of convergence but also realising that more
progress was needed in other issues.
Greek Finance Minister Euclid Tsakalotos, speaking to reporters, after
a meeting between representatives of the country's creditors and the
government's economic team, said that the two sides agreed on the basic
architecture of income tax and reforming the pension system.
Tsakalotos noted that all sides acknowledged that an agreement must be
reach in a reasonable time. "We noted convergence points and areas needing
more progress on a technical or political level," the Greek FinMin said.
The mission chiefs of the institutions are leaving Athens on Friday,
while the technical staff will remain. "We have every expectation that
they will return around the timetable set, so that the negotiation will
enter its final phase," Tsakalotos said, adding that "representatives want
to discuss between them, but the milestone of completing the negotiation
by the end of February still remains".
"The good news is that both in income tax and pension reform we have
an agreement on the basic architecture. We share a common base in the
rationale of reforms," Tsakalotos said, adding: "They understand the
government's commitments not to cut pensions". "I am more happy today
than on the first day," the finance minister said, adding that the two
sides will also discuss on fiscal issues.
|
