FRANKFURT (MNI) – Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou Wednesday
called on Europe’s leaders to take the necessary decisions to finally
bring an end to the debt crisis.
“Now is the time for the European leadership to collectively take
the decisions to end the uncertainty, end the crisis, turn the page and
make sure we take a big step forward for a better future for our peoples
in Europe,” Papandreou said to reporters as he arrived for the EU summit
in Brussels.
The Greek prime minister said that the goal for the meeting was not
just to save the euro, but “to safeguard the ideals we cherish so much
in Europe”, including “social cohesion and solidarity [...] without
prejudice.”
He also stressed the “superhuman effort” that the Greeks were
undertaking “to put our house in order, to make our economy competitive
[...] and create a better future for our country.”
Despite Papandreou’s entreaties, there were growing signs that the
leaders would not seal a final deal tonight, with important details yet
resolved on key issues, including the size of a private sector haircut
on Greek bonds and the amount of new financing to provided to the
European bailout fund, the EFSF, by leveraging its E440 billion.
— Frankfurt bureau: +49 69 720 142; email: frankfurt@marketnews.com —
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