EUROZONE-GREECE/TSIPRAS-PARTY LEADERS Greece's Tsipras wins broad political backing for aid talks

Record ID: 148255

  • Title: EUROZONE-GREECE/TSIPRAS-PARTY LEADERS Greece's Tsipras wins broad political backing for aid talks
  • Date: 6th July 2015
  • Summary: ATHENS, GREECE (JULY 06, 2015) (REUTERS) EXTERIOR OF GREECE'S PRESIDENTIAL MANSION GREEK FLAG MEDIA PACK OUTSIDE PRESIDENTIAL MANSION VARIOUS OF GREEK PRIME MINISTER, ALEXIS TSIPRAS, LEAVING GREECE'S PRESIDENTIAL MANSION AFTER MEETING WITH POLITICAL LEADERS/WAVES TO JOURNALISTS VARIOUS OF TSIPRAS ENTERING HIS OFFICE BUILDING GREEK DEFENCE MINISTER, PANOS KAMMENOS, AT MEETI
  • Embargoed: 21st July 2015 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Greece
  • Country: Greece
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVAARSW239P4Y4FCQZU2MPFMTQZI
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Greece's main opposition and ruling parties issued a joint declaration on Monday (July 6) backing the government's efforts to clinch a new aid deal.
    The unprecedented move amongst a group of party leaders more accustomed to screaming abuse at each other in parliament is aimed at helping Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras to cement broad support after a resounding referendum win.
    The declaration followed talks between political leaders at the presidential mansion in Athens, after Greeks on Sunday (July 5) voted resoundingly to reject the terms of an international aid deal.
    "The entirety of the democratic parties has given the power to the prime minister to go tomorrow to Brussels and negotiate on behalf of the whole of the Greek people and with a huge majority of the parties sitting in the Greek Parliament. From now on, it is in the hands of Europe to realise that the solution, which is the wish of the whole of the Greek people and the political parties, must be reached immediately so that Greece gets back on the path of growth and prosperity," said Greek Defence Minister Panos Kammenos, leader of the junior coalition party, the anti-austerity Independent Greeks.
    The leader of the centrist Po Tami party, Stavros Theodorakis, said it was crucial Greece showed a united front to save the talks in Brussels.
    "The situation is very critical, the messages (from abroad) are very negative, we must prove wrong all those who believe that the European Union can exist without the Greeks. This is not the time to talk about responsibilities and I believe we must all make a united effort," Theodorakis said.
    The leaders said they were seeking a deal with European and IMF creditors that ensure adequate funding, credible reforms, a growth plan and the commitment to start discussions on the sustainability of Greece's massive debt.
    They called for immediate steps to reopen banks and said any deal must address debt sustainability - code for reducing Athens' crushing debt - but gave no hint of concessions from the Greek side towards lenders' demands for deep spending cuts and far-reaching reforms of pensions and labour markets.
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