Venizelos and Juncker talked about the extension

In a teleconference on Wednesday afternoon, PASOK president told Εurozone president Jean-Claude Juncker about the need for an extension of the adjustment period so that the package of measures will be applicable over a longer period.

Venizelos said that the extension does not require additional funding, approvals by parliaments and a third program, as it can be achieved in the ways he has shown. "It is imperative that any measures be combined with another international communication framework. We must stop the constant questioning about Greece and its future in the euro."

He noted that "managing the existing program and the disbursements must be done in a way that facilitates liquidity, investment, growth and employment, because otherwise we will not persuade either the markets or the citizens, about the meaning of the whole effort".

He added that "unfairly negative stereotypes are prevalent in some European countries relating to the notion that Greece has not achieved its goals, while the numbers show that both fiscal consolidation and progress in structural changes are impressive."

According to information, Juncker told Venizelos that he understands the request for an extension and his personal stance is absolutely against any discussion on Greece exiting the euro.

Venizelos also met with Wolfgang Dold, the Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany, who had the initiative for the meeting, apparently to prepare the climate for Samaras' meeting with Merkel.

Venizelos informed the German Ambassador on the course of the fiscal consolidation and stressed that the numbers document this important adjustment and the considerable achievements on the level of structural changes.

Lastly, the PASOK president met with a group from Deutsche Bank dealing with the Greek issues, led by vice president of Deutsche Bank and former Finance Secretary Caio Koch-Weser.