GERMANY: Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle warns Greece that it must be ready to accept help, and notes the significance of Franco-German relations after the election of the new Socialist President Francois Hollande

Record ID: 860069

  • Title: GERMANY: Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle warns Greece that it must be ready to accept help, and notes the significance of Franco-German relations after the election of the new Socialist President Francois Hollande
  • Date: 12th May 2012
  • Summary: BERLIN, GERMANY (MAY 11, 2012) (REUTERS) WESTERWELLE SPEAKING
  • Embargoed: 27th May 2012 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Germany
  • City:
  • Country: Germany
  • Topics: International Relations,Economy,Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA36YAMLCP0RL1R5CTQUALPYNC1
  • Aspect Ratio:
  • Story Text: Germany's foreign minister laid out a six-point plan for a European "growth pact" on Friday (May 11), but said Greece must stick to its reform commitments if it wanted to receive further aid and remain in the euro zone.
    In a speech to the Bundestag lower house of parliament days before a visit to Berlin by new French President Francois Hollande, Guido Westerwelle said Germany too wanted to focus on growth but not if it meant more spending.
    He said Germany wanted to hold the euro zone together but that it was up to Greece to decide whether it wanted to stay in the currency bloc.
    "The future of Greece in the euro zone lies in the hands of Greece. We want to and we will help Greece, but Greece has to be ready to accept help. If Greece strays from the agreed reform path, then the payment of further aid tranches won't be possible. Solidarity is not a one way street," he told German lawmakers.
    Westerwelle also told parliament that Franco-German relations would remain of the utmost importance after the election of France's new Socialist president, Francois Hollande.
    "The German-Franco friendship is essential for the people of Europe. We would like to congratulate the newly elected French President Francois Hollande. We will work closely with the new French government and together with our European partners we will find a solution to the problems," he said, adding:
    "I want to say very openly, I think that the German-French friendship is completely independent from national political tendencies."
    German Chancellor Angela Merkel is set to welcome Hollande to Berlin for talks on Tuesday (May 15) immediately after his inauguration ceremony.
    Westerwelle also criticised the politics of Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko.
    "Europe is a community of values. This is why we do not stand still when in our immediate vicinity on the European continent, common values are violated. We stand beside those who are repressed in Belarus, even if this is not part of media observations every day. This is Europe and what is happening in Belarus is a disgrace for Europe," he said.
    Lukashenko has governed with an iron fist since coming to power in 1994, cracking down on public protests against his government and throwing opponents into jail.
    The EU and the United States have imposed travel sanctions against Lukashenko and his inner circle of political associates. Last February EU countries pulled their ambassadors out of Minsk, though they have since returned.
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