"Greece is changing; making a strong and well-coordinated effort. This is obvious to everybody and gradually acknowledged by even the most skeptical among foreign analysts," government spokesman Yiorgos Petalotis said on Tuesday, stressing that the international markets "can see that we are not the problem anymore but part of the solution".
Petalotis referred to the six-month Treasury bills issue auctioned on Tuesday, stressing that the interest rate was satisfactory considering "the period we are going through". He also pointed out that the issue was 4.54 times oversubscribed and that foreign investors covered 80 percent of the auction.
"Once again we proved that stability, credibility and trust are restored as regards our economy," he underlined.
Petalotis stated that certain decisions were painful but necessary to allow the country to stand on its feet and pointed out that the government is trying to create a protection net for the financially weak and restore the income of the workers when conditions allow. He stressed that this can happen in a short period of time if we focus on the goals set and the implementation of major reforms.
Petalotis also underlined that inequality and privileges will not return.
"A European austerity plan is not up for discussion" and such plans are not being suggested, he stressed.
"Either way, we have already implemented tough measures and decisions to be able to continue to exist as a country," he said.
As regards the Greek deposits into Swiss banks made by tax-dodgers, he said that an effort is being made to cooperate with Switzerland on technical level to have access to such bank accounts, adding that during his visit to Davos the premier met with the Swiss President while Finance Minister Papakonstantinou has contacts with his Swiss counterpart.
Petalotis expressed satisfaction with the outcome of an opinion poll made public on Monday that showed ruling Pasok having a comfortable lead over main opposition New Democracy (ND).
Responding to a relevant question, Petalotis repeated that there will be no mass legalization of undocumented migrants and that each case is being processed separately in compliance with existing legislation.
source: ANA
