Athens Macedonian News Agency: News in English, 17-05-02

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

CONTENTS

[01] Dijsselbloem: Agreement paves the way for discussions on Greek debt sustainability

[02] Moscovici: The agreement opens the way for swift conclusion of second programme review

[03] Main opposition ND lashes out at government for the agreement

[01] Dijsselbloem: Agreement paves the way for discussions on Greek debt sustainability

"Welcomes preliminary agreement between institutions & Greece on a policy package. This will now be complemented by discussions in the coming weeks on a credible strategy for ensuring that Greece's debt is sustainable," he posted.

[02] Moscovici: The agreement opens the way for swift conclusion of second programme review

"The agreement reached overnight in Athens on the Greek Stability Support Programme is a very positive development following months of complex negotiations. These new efforts agreed by the Greek authorities open the way for a rapid conclusion of the second review. The swift implementation of these commitments should enable the Eurogroup to endorse this agreement at its next meeting. This second review is strategic for Greece as it not only delivers on key reforms to modernise the Greek economy but also secures a credible fiscal path for the years to come, beyond the ESM programme. It is now for all partners to reach an understanding on the question of Greece's debt in the coming weeks. It is time to turn the page on this long and difficult austerity chapter for the Greek people. With this agreement, we need now to write a new story of stability, jobs and growth for Greece and for the euro area as a whole."

[03] Main opposition ND lashes out at government for the agreement

SYRIZA's election was a product of deception and its stay in government is based on the same political method, he underlined and added: "The measures of the agreement will now be tabled in Parliament. We will do what we have to do. We will explain that the government has agreed on a fourth memorandum without additional financing but with permanent measures of 2 pct of GDP and high primary surplus targets. The so-called offset measures will only be implemented provided that the country will exceed the primary surplus target. And all the above without a commitment about the debt and the ECB quantitative easing programme. The cost of the measures reach 12.5 billion euros."

"The cost of Tsipras' lack of credibility is high," he said adding that he brought a fourth memorandum that puts more pressure on the society in order to remain in government.

Regarding the elections, he said: The government is doing its best to avoid the elections.

Finally, he claimed that the creditors are asking additional measures because they do not trust the government.

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