FinMin Varoufakis: Greece needs some space, time and breathers

"The country wants space, time and breathers" says Finance Minister Yanis Varoufakis adding that "there is no issue of tearing up the previous programme" in an interview to Saturday (31/01/2015) newspaper Agora.

Ξανθίππη Γιαννάκου

ENGLISH NEWS
2'

The Greek finance minister said that within the context of his meetings with his EU counterparts there will be a meeting with German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble.

He underlined that the Greek proposals on the debt have less cost to the European tax payers in comparison with the lenders' proposals and stated that "the State has continuity" clarifying that a number of agreements that have been made with private investors will not be touched.

"We will not tear up the previous programme; there is not issue of asking for an extension of the previous programme. Europe is very skillful in finding euphemisms and phrases that satisfy everyone" noted Varoufakis adding that "what is really needed is a 'bridge' between the old programme, that we reject, and the new agreement after the completion of our negotiation".

What we really want, said the Finance Minister, is a new 'fiscal space' some breathers, noting that "within the framework of this space and time we will be able to discuss and deliberate with our partners in order to reach a new agreement that will essentially put an end to the Greek problem and will make the Greek social economy sustainable".

At a question if we will receive the installment, Varoufakis clarified "we will not take the tranche because it will mean that we accept the continuation of the programme. It is frequently said that there is a deadline on February 28; we believe that this is an arbitrary deadline; it is a product of the former government's political agreement with our partners. Where an issue will really exist is in June-July when the bonds that ECB has will mature. We want the negotiation, the deliberation to be completed until then and to have a new agreement in order to move afterwards on the right course".

Varoufakis noted that "the government's aim is to present a specific reform programme. What I want to underline is that the State has continuity. Our commitments to investors that have invested in the country's productive web will remain untouched".