BERLIN (MNI) – Some Eurozone countries are considering giving
Greece a bridge loan to repay E14.5 billion of bonds in March in case
the second Greek aid package hasn’t been agreed by then, German daily
Die Welt reported Thursday, citing sources.

According to the newspaper, some Eurozone countries want to await
the outcome of the Greek elections expected for this spring before
deciding on the second Greek aid package. They want to be sure that the
new government adheres to the reform and austerity program, the paper
said.

“We need certainty that the [reform] path will be continued after
the election date as well,” German government spokesman Steffen Seibert
said Wednesday.

“For all European partners and the IMF it is important that the
[Greek reform] program be continued and implemented,” German Finance
Ministry spokesman Martin Kotthaus said at the same press conference.

Greece’s Finance Minister Evangelos Venizelos said late Wednesday
the country has “fulfilled all necessary requirements asked by the
Eurogroup”, and he expressed optimism Eurozone finance ministers will
approve an agreement with private creditors at their scheduled meeting
Monday.

Speaking to reporters after the three-hour teleconference of the
Eurogroup, Venizelos said “the political commitments by the two party
leaders supporting the coalition government have been given, the letters
of intent have been sent and the Greek parliament has already approved
the new austerity plan by a two thirds majority.

“This is of great importance and it gives a credible answer to
those within Europe who question our competence and ability to implement
the new program after the national elections”.

Venizelos added that during the teleconference he presented a
report for the E325 million worth of new measures that had remained
undetermined since last week.

He emphasized that his counterparts also raised the issue of the
political and social uncertainty in Greece and whether the new
parliament to be formed after the national elections, expected in April,
will be willing to enforce the new lending agreement.

He told the Eurogroup that the two main parties, the conservative
New Democracy and the socialist PASOK, already had given the necessary
support, he said.

Earlier, government officials leaked to reporters that the Finland
and the Netherlands finance ministers have asked for signed letters by
all political parties in Greece, including the leftist which have been
opposing all austerity packages.

That proposal was rejected in the conference, the officials said,
as it would have been impossible to get consent from the leftist
parties, plunging thus Greece into greater uncertainty.

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

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