Greece wants to fix debt problem with EU, not other powers

Image
AFP Berlin
Last Updated : Feb 11 2015 | 1:45 AM IST
Greece's foreign minister said his left-wing government wants to resolve the nation's debt squeeze with Europe, dismissing suggestions Athens could seek help from the United States, Russia or China.
"My favourite is Europe and I hope that Europe will understand that it is our top favourite," said Nikos Kotzias, playing down recent comments about a "Plan B" by his cabinet colleague, Defence Minister Panos Kammenos, which sparked speculation Athens might be considering looking beyond the continent for help to soften its debt and bailout pain.
Greece wants a European solution, asks to be treated as an equal partner, and seeks an alternative arrangement promoting social justice and growth, Kotzias said at the start of a meeting with German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier in Berlin.
Kotzias will travel to Moscow on Wednesday at the invitation of his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov, the foreign ministry in Athens said in an earlier statement.
The Greek government has said it has a 10-point plan to convince sceptical creditors to ease the country's bailout obligations, ahead of a an emergency meeting of eurozone finance ministers on Wednesday.
Kotzias also said, as he turned toward Steinmeier, that he would address the question of further reparations for Nazi Germany's crimes during World War II and the repayment of war loans, a sensitive subject that has recently been discussed in the Greek parliament.
Steinmeier responded that "we Germans are aware of the political and moral responsibility for the terrible events of 1941-1944 in Greece," but reiterated Berlin's rejection of the demand.
"Legally, however, our opinion has not changed," he said. "We remain of the firm opinion that all reparations have been settled once and for all.
*Subscribe to Business Standard digital and get complimentary access to The New York Times

Smart Quarterly

₹900

3 Months

₹300/Month

SAVE 25%

Smart Essential

₹2,700

1 Year

₹225/Month

SAVE 46%
*Complimentary New York Times access for the 2nd year will be given after 12 months

Super Saver

₹3,900

2 Years

₹162/Month

Subscribe

Renews automatically, cancel anytime

Here’s what’s included in our digital subscription plans

Exclusive premium stories online

  • Over 30 premium stories daily, handpicked by our editors

Complimentary Access to The New York Times

  • News, Games, Cooking, Audio, Wirecutter & The Athletic

Business Standard Epaper

  • Digital replica of our daily newspaper — with options to read, save, and share

Curated Newsletters

  • Insights on markets, finance, politics, tech, and more delivered to your inbox

Market Analysis & Investment Insights

  • In-depth market analysis & insights with access to The Smart Investor

Archives

  • Repository of articles and publications dating back to 1997

Ad-free Reading

  • Uninterrupted reading experience with no advertisements

Seamless Access Across All Devices

  • Access Business Standard across devices — mobile, tablet, or PC, via web or app

More From This Section

First Published: Feb 11 2015 | 1:45 AM IST

Next Story