BERLIN (MNI) – German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble
reaffirmed in a newspaper interview published Wednesday that Greece will
be supported by its Eurozone peers if it implements agreed
consolidation and reform measures.

“If Greece is willing to carry the burden … and stay in the
Eurozone, then we will support it,” Schaeuble told German business daily
Financial Times Deutschland (FTD).

Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou announced on Monday that
he will hold a referendum on the EU bailout deal, hinting that early
elections are possible if the referendum fails to win voters’ approval.

Schaeuble told FTD he believes that “Greece will respect its
obligations.”

German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Nicolas
Sarkozy will meet later today in Cannes with representatives of the IMF,
the European institutions and the Greek government to discuss the
necessary measures for a swift implementation the bailout deal, German
government spokesman Steffen Seibert announced Tuesday.

–Berlin bureau: +49-30-22 62 05 80; email: twidder@marketnews.com

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