Venizelos’ teleconference with the Eurozone finance ministers

Prior to the teleconference of European technocrats, Evangelos Venizelos had a teleconference with the finance ministers of Germany, France and Italy. Venizelos, Schäuble, Baroin and Tremonti discussed the developments and scenarios in view of Thursday’s summit, when the new rescue package for Greece will be discussed.

On Tuesday morning, Venizelos will meet with U.S. deputy minister of Finance Christopher Smart.

According to information from the governmental camp, PM Giorgos Papandreou is trying to meet with European leaders who are key players in current developments, such as Van Rompuy and Barroso. His government favors a mini summit on Thursday morning, with the participation of the ECB chief Jean-Claude Trichet, Eurogroup president Jean-Claude Juncker, and, of course, Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Nicolas Sarkozy.

Athens places grave importance on finding a solution that will include a partial debt extension, new economic aid toward Greece and better loan rates.