- Title: EUROZONE-GREECE/JUNCKER EU's Juncker urges Greeks to vote 'Yes' in referendum
- Date: 29th June 2015
- Summary: BRUSSELS, BELGIUM (JUNE 29, 2015) (REUTERS) CONSTRUCTION WORK OUTSIDE EU COMMISSION BUILDING BANNER, READING (Dutch): "European Commission" EXTERIOR OF EU COMMISSION BUILDING EU FLAGS FLOATING IN WIND
- Embargoed: 14th July 2015 13:00
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- Location: Belgium
- Country: Belgium
- Topics: General
- Reuters ID: LVA6BS271ZJNU6QAUKITTNZYAGKB
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: EU chief executive Jean-Claude Juncker urged Greeks on Monday (June 29) to back a cash-for-reform package rejected by their government, saying a 'no' vote in Sunday's referendum would mean Greece was turning its back on the European Union.
Following a breakdown of talks between Athens and its creditors, Juncker said he was saddened by the outcome of Saturday's inconclusive meeting of all 19 eurozone finance ministers.
"This isn't a game of liar's poker. There isn't one winner and another one who loses. Either we are all winners or we are all losers. I am deeply distressed, saddened by the spectacle that Europe gave last Saturday. In a single night, the European conscience has taken a heavy blow. Goodwill has somewhat evaporated," he told reporters at a news conference.
Juncker also delivered a withering criticism of the Greek government which called the referendum and which advised Greeks to vote against creditor proposals.
"Playing off one democracy against 18 others is not an attitude which is fitting for the great Greek nation," Juncker said.
Juncker also rejected criticism that his Commission and Eurogroup President Jeroen Dijsselbloem had not done enough by going to extra mile to clinch a deal between Athens and its creditors.
"I have done everything, others have tried to do everything they could and we don't deserve all the criticism being heaped upon us, we don't deserve all the criticism, neither me nor the chairman of the Eurogroup Mr. Dijsselbloem," Juncker said.
He defended the offer put on the table by the European Commission by saying the proposal made to Greece was socially fairer than the government had sought - effectively appealing over the head of Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras.
"This is certainly a demanding and comprehensive package but it is a fair one," Juncker said.
He ran through the proposal, highlighting that it contained no wages and pension cut.
"There are no wage cuts in this package and nobody is allowed to give the impression that there are wage cut in this package. There are no pension cuts in this package. No pension cuts in this package. In fact, it is a package that creates more social fairness, more growth and more modern and transparent public administration," Juncker said.
Juncker reiterated his call to the Greek government to describe the Commission's proposal fairly to parliamentarians and to Greek voters, adding him and his team were still open to discussions.
"Every citizen deserves the whole story and the truth and they have to know that, on our side, the door is still open," Juncker said.
Juncker said he still believed a Greek exit from the eurozone was not an option, but cautioned that he alone could not necessarily protect Athens from other leaders who may disagree.
Juncker called upon the Greek Government to accept a cash-for reform deal like other EU members did before.
"It is time for Greece's political leaders to show their responsibility, to tell their people what is really at stake. That will not be easy but necessary. Others did it, as the Irish, as the Portuguese, as the Spaniards, the Latvians, others. It is a moment of truth," he said.
He asked Greeks voters to vote 'yes' at a referendum on the austerity cuts in the aid package proposed by the creditors, warning them against the consequences of a 'no.'
"I simply want to say that - outside Greece - we have to know that the message a 'No' would send would be disastrous for the future. Therefore, I would ask the Greek people to vote 'yes' independently from what the question asked will be."
Juncker warned them against 'committing suicide,' by rejecting the cash-for-reform-deal and hereby renouncing a future with European Union.
"I would tell the Greeks whom I profoundly like: 'We should not commit suicide because we're scared of death, we should not commit suicide because we're scared of death," Juncker said.
Juncker concluded his 33-minute-long speech by speaking a few words in Greece.
"Greece in Europe. Europe with Greece," Juncker said.
Juncker's comments came a day after Tsipras announced capital controls to prevent banks from collapsing as he appeared on television on Sunday night.
With banks shuttered and cash machines closed across Greece, the imposition capped a dramatic weekend for Greece that has pushed the country towards a likely default on 1.6 billion euros of International Monetary Fund loans on Tuesday and closer to an exit from the euro currency bloc. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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