Greece to ‘patiently wait for realism’ by its international lenders
The Greek prime minister says Athens is not in a rush to clinch a deal with its international creditors over the financial crisis in the country and will “wait patiently” for the lenders to become “realistic.”
“We will wait patiently until the institutions become more realistic,” Alexis Tsipras wrote in the Ephimarida ton Syndakton daily on Monday.
The 40-year-old politician also denounced the “political opportunism” of the creditors, who keep pressing Athens to cut pensions as part of reforms demanded to unlock a last tranche of international loans.
The comments came as last-ditch bailout talks between Athens and its creditors failed once again on Sunday, amid the looming threat of a Greek exit from the euro.
The negotiations collapsed in their second day, with the two parts blaming each other for their failure.
“They came with their hands in their pockets,” said an EU source close to the talks, while Greek officials said the failure was the fault of the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
Meanwhile, Tsipras called on the IMF and the European Union, which along with the European Central Bank (ECB) are Greece’s international lenders, to consider the fact that, “We are not only the heirs of a long history of struggle. We are also carrying on our shoulders the dignity of a people, and the hope of the peoples of Europe.”
Greek sources said the IMF’s position in the talks was “intransigent and tough” as the institution pushed for further pension cuts and an increase in value-added tax on basic goods like electricity.
Greece’s financial crisis began six years ago and its economy is still struggling despite receiving two rescue programs since 2010, worth 240 billion euros (270 billion dollars).
The negotiations aim to end a five-month disagreement between the Greek government and its creditors, who want reforms in return for the last 7.2 billion euros (8.1 billion dollars) of Greece’s huge bailout.
The eurozone’s 19 finance ministers are set to meet in Luxembourg on Thursday in a bid to find a solution to the Greek crisis as its bailout terminates on June 30.
MR/HJL/HRB
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