“I want to say very clearly that, throughout this crisis, I have always maintained that Greece is part of the eurozone and I wish to remain a member of the eurozone. This is the principle that has guided all our talks”. Thus opens the press conference of the German Chancellor, Angela Merkel, after today's meeting in Berlin with the Greek premier Antonis Samaras. Words that essentially reaffirm the message launched yesterday by Berlin's number one at the end of the bilateral agreement with the French president, François Hollande. And which at the same time seem addressed to contain the pressing of the German hawks – the zealous supporters of “Grexit” who populate the Bundestag – rather than a real openness towards the Hellenic country.
“During the conversation with Prime Minister Samaras – continued the Chancellor -, I said that we expect Greece to implement the commitments made and that words are followed by deeds”. However, “fulfilling commitments also means that Greece expects Germany not to make hasty decisions“, but “only on the basis of established facts”.
On the possibility of new aids, Merkel had already made it clear that a decision will only be made after the Troika report (the EU, ECB and IMF inspectors are expected in Athens between 5 and 6 September). As for the point that most interests Samaras, the postponement from 2014 to 2016 of the deadline for completing the austerity measures, sources close to the German Executive point to a glimmer of light.
Yet the Chancellor has by no means denied the tough stance of her finance minister, Wolfgang Schaeuble, who just yesterday said he was against the extension: “It wouldn't be the solution either for Greece or for the eurozone. More time means more money, and aid has already reached its limit." The vice-chancellor, the liberal, took care of closing the discussion Philip Roesler: “No help to those who don't keep their commitments”.
Ma Samaras he doesn't want to be targeted and tries to send reassuring messages: "Athens will respect its commitments – he said today in Berlin -. The Troika report will show that the new Greek government can deliver. We want to walk on our own legs: we don't want any more help, just time to breathe".
