FRANKFURT (MNI) – Finland will demand guarantees from Ireland if
the troubled former Celtic Tiger needs to seek financial assistance from
its European partners, Finland’s Finance Minister Jyrki Katainen said in
an interview published Tuesday.
“If Ireland needs financial support, then Finland will demand
guarantees from the Irish government. These guarantees are necessary to
make it clear that Ireland alone is responsible for its debts,” Katainen
told German daily Die Welt.
Despite intensifying pressure on Ireland, top political leaders
insist that it is not seeking financial assistance to help shoulder the
burden of its troubled financial situation.
Eurogroup head Jean-Claude Juncker told journalists here Monday
that Ireland has not asked for financial assistance from Europe.
–Frankfurt bureau; +49-69-720142; frankfurt@marketnews.com
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