Germany says it won't decide on fresh aid for Greece until a review of the current rescue program from the European Commission, the European Central Bank and International Monetary Fund is published.
"We currently aren't in a phase where we can talk about a clear program with the support of the government", Steffen Seibert, spokesman for Chancellor Angela Merkel, said at a regular press conference Monday. "That yet has to be worked out."Moreover, it is still unclear whether there will be a fresh rescue program for Greece, and under which conditions, finance ministry spokesman Martin Kreienbaum said at the same press conference.The German government expects the detailed report from the so-called troika on Wednesday, although that isn't absolutely certain either, Seibert said.Asked whether Merkel supports calls by German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble for a participation of private lenders in further Greek rescue efforts, Seibert said the government continues to reject an "obligatory participation of private lenders."That would only be possible after the introduction planned for mid-2013 of the future European Stability Mechanism that is slated to supplant the euro zone's current rescue fund.Schaeuble in a comment Friday had said in exchange for possible further aid for Greece, private lenders would need to make a "voluntary contribution."
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