Greece slams international lenders
- Source: Global Times
- [08:39 February 14 2011]
- Comments
Greece accused the EU and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) of interfering in its domestic affairs on Saturday after the international lenders said Athens must speed up reforms and sell more public assets.
On Friday, the EU and IMF inspectors visiting Greece to monitor the implementation of a bailout plan that saved Greece from bankruptcy approved more aid for the country, but adopted a more critical tone than on previous visits.
In rare harsh words, the Greek government said the inspectors' approach was unacceptable, after coming under fire from local media for not reacting to criticism of the pace of reforms and the call for privatizations of state assets.
The EU, the IMF and the European Central Bank (ECB) said Sunday they had the "deepest respect" for Greece's austerity efforts and that a furore over their demand for a huge asset sale was regrettable.
"Our collaboration in this effort has always been, and continues to be, based on mutual trust," the three organizations which are closely supervising Greece's economic recovery said in a statement. "It is regrettable if a different impression was perceived at any time," said the three, commonly called "the troika" in Greece.
Prime Minister George Papandreou talked with both IMF head Dominique Strauss-Kahn and EU Monetary Affairs Commissioner Olli Rehn on Saturday to complain, his office said.
In his telephone conversation with Strauss-Kahn, Papandreou "conveyed the message of the Greek government about the unacceptable behavior of the representatives of the European Commission, of the ECB and the IMF during Sunday's news conference," Papandreou's office said in a statement.
Earlier in the day, government spokesman George Petalotis said: "We asked nobody to interfere in domestic affairs ... we only take orders from the Greek people."
The inspectors were in Athens to monitor fourth-quarter progress on the 110 billion euro fiscal consolidation plan. They commended Greece for being broadly on track with the plan and approved a 15-billion-euro aid installment.
But they said the government must sell far more assets to get back on its feet.
The lenders set an ambitious target for privatization proceeds, saying that 50 billion euros should be raised in 2011-2015. The government's previous target was for 7 billion euros in 2011-2013.
IMF mission chief Poul Thomsen urged Greeks not to let "those who have vested interests" prevent the many from benefiting from privatizations.
Reuters
