EUROZONE-GREECE/SUMMIT ARRIVALS UPDATE It’s always “manana” with the Greek government –Lithuanian president

Record ID: 148163

  • Title: EUROZONE-GREECE/SUMMIT ARRIVALS UPDATE It’s always “manana” with the Greek government –Lithuanian president
  • Date: 7th July 2015
  • Summary: BRUSSELS, BELGIUM (JULY 7, 2015) (REUTERS) MUSCAT TALKING TO JOURNALISTS
  • Embargoed: 22nd July 2015 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Belgium
  • Country: Belgium
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVAELJFH66MYFG5U5RF42K8F3DFP
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: European leaders were sceptical that a reform deal with Greece was imminent on Tuesday (July 7) as they arrived for an emergency eurozone summit in Brussels.
    Lithuanian President Dalia Grybauskaite accused the Greek government of coming to the summit empty-handed, expressing frustration at months of fruitless wrangling between Greece and its eurozone partners.
    "There was a promise for today. Then they're (the Greeks) promising for tomorrow. If for the Greek government it's every time 'manana', for us always can be 'manana' every day," she said as she arrived for the summit.
    Austrian Chancellor Werner Faymann told reporters there was little room for optimism and the Maltese Prime Minister Joseph Muscat said there was a chance the summit would be a waste of time.
    "I believe the fact that we do not have such a proposal reflects badly and we're starting off on a bad footing. Obviously we will see what the Greek Prime Minister (Alexis Tsipras) has to say later on today," he said.
    With Greek banks down to their last few days of cash and the European Central Bank tightening the noose on their funding, Tsipras tried to convince the bloc's other 18 leaders to authorise a new loan swiftly.
    But German Chancellor Angela Merkel said on arrival there was still no basis for reopening negotiations with Athens.
    Italian Prime Minister, Matteo Renzi, said he believed the leaders were still committed to a deal, though with a telephone conference of eurozone finance minister not scheduled until Wednesday it could still take time.
    "I believe that Europe will do everything to reach a deal and I think that not today, but in the coming hours this deal can be found," Renzi told reporters.
    A bank closure in force since the talks collapsed was prolonged until Thursday at least, and cash withdrawals remain limited to 60 euros a day, with 20 euro notes running out.
    The Athens stock exchange was also ordered closed for two days on Tuesday and Wednesday to throttle speculation.
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