EU partners raise the issue of commitment by all parties

During the long teleconference that ended on Wednesday night, the European finance ministers called for the consent and commitment of all political parties in view of the elections.

Finance minister Evangelos Venizelos said that "Greece has fulfilled the prerequisite steps for the new loan due this March, and the European finance ministers expressed their satisfaction with the political declarations of commitment they received from the party leaders who support the government."

"We also discussed the issue of the attitude of the other parties and the operating mode of social partners", Venizelos said, as Europeans compare our situation with what happened recently in Portugal, Italy and Ireland.

Venizelos told his European counterparts that:

    * the parliament voted in favor of the program with a 2/3 majority
    * they legislated all the hard provisions for the labor market
    * they achieved the implementation of the budgetary target for 2012
    * they finalised the cuts for the 325 million euros

However, the teleconference was dominated by "the political debate about what the Greek society wants and whether the next government can continue to run the program. They want to know that they are dealing with a reliable country, with continuity and consistency. The implementation of the program should be based on the two major parties. There is no other solution."

Venizelos will inform Papademos and the political leaders on these issues at Maximos Mansion today.

Using dramatic language, he appealed to the country's political world: "We must have unity and smoothness. Those who vaguely argue for an alternative solution or a return to the drachma do not realize that with such blind and myopic reaction, incomes will collapse. No one can guarantee the prospects and security of Greek citizens."

In a written statement, Eurogroup president Jean-Claude Juncker said that there has undoubtedly been progress in the process of addressing the "Greek problem" and appeared confident that the Monday Eurogroup will provide the "necessary solution."

"We have received firm commitments from the Greek political leaders," said the head of the council of Eurozone Finance ministers, adding that Greece and the Troika - which has completed and presented a report on the Greek economy to the ministers - have identified the additional measures amounting to 325 million euros.

However, the climate earlier was not as positive, mainly due to the articles of international agencies on the efforts of our partners to at least disengage from the "Greek problem".

In particular, EU sources said that Eurozone members are examining ways to delay part or even the whole of the second rescue plan for Greece, managing in the process to avoid uncontrolled default.