Δραγασάκης: our pressure was and is, “get it over with, we’re clear”

“It is recognised everywhere that progress is being made, indirectly recognized that we’re late. And this τεκμαίρω from the fact that it was decided to stay there…
the Greek delegation, and through a process of intensive consultations and negotiations until Thursday to clear up the landscape. And we know where we agree, where we disagree”. This is emphasised in the introduction to the interview to ERT 1, the vice-president of the government Yannis Δραγασάκης. Then he noted that “about this and think that it is more important to stay in Brussels the delegation of the Greek government instead of coming here, the brackets”.
“Because”, as he explained, “that will stay there, it will give you the ability to see issues which are not technical but policy, what is the position of the various actors. We cannot, for example, to talk forever if you need to released the fire in Greece. The government disagrees, the social bodies in Greece disagree, the Europeans disagree, then who wants it?”, asked the vice-president.
Finally, “in the context in which is conducted the negotiation, the today’s decision can contribute to the completion of the entire process with the meaning to close the notorious, as it is called, a technical agreement as soon as possible in order to stay two problems: What the primary surplus would have after 2018, and for how long, and what will become of the public debt”, argued even the C. Δραγασάκης, which concluded:
“Both of these are political issues concern us, and the IMF and the european institutions. In this sense we can say that we’re within the general framework. Our pressure was and is, “get it over with, we’re clear”. We can’t talk forever on a subject in which there are two views. We need a way to solve these issues. Our desire was to provide a framework of intensive consultations”.
Referring to the today’s decision of the Eurogroup, mr Δραγασάκης highlighted that may contribute to the carrying out of the steps remaining for the completion of the evaluation. “The fact that negotiations were continuing until the Thursday in Brussels gives you the possibility, to be resolved at the same time political and technical issues” reported. The Greek government is putting pressure for the intensification of the talks “so that we can be done with a way to resolve the issues”, as he said, and stressed that “the agreement can and should be closed, satisfying but agreed from all of the aim for the end of the Programme in 2018”.
“The Greek side does what it deserves. It’s time for the same to make and the partners. The IMF and Germany to take their decisions,” said mr. Δραγασάκης.
With regard to the delays in the closure of the second evaluation, the vice-president of the government said that “any delay it until today due only to diverging or contradictory objectives between lenders”.
The topics of the second evaluation were agreed or approached by last November, said mr. Δραγασάκης and added that the second assessment was associated with the measures after 2018, and the debt issue, as well as how the relations of Germany with D.N.T..
“Some want the IMF in the programme, but do not want the conditions set by the board.N.T. It’s a knot which must be resolved in the next period of time,” he said, and stressed that, “there is a system of forces that want to close the deal, and some countries that do not want to, but it’s not the majority”.
Commenting on the requirements of the board.N.Sq., he said that many of these move “in the realm of the absurd while the measures are asking us for help in anything.
Ask for a reduction of tax rates to high incomes and business profits and reduce the income tax for low incomes. It is possible to accept by the government and such measures?”, questioned mr. Δραγασάκης, while he noted that Europeans are factors that indicate that it is necessary the participation of the board.N.T in the Greek program, reinforcing the bargaining power of the Fund.
“It is possible by some lenders to us are asked in labour’s retreat from the european social acquis”, he wondered, and concluded that “the issue of collective bargaining is not only Greek, but some are trying through the board.N.T. to disrupt the regularity in the whole of Europe”.
Continuing, mr. Δραγασάκης criticised the opposition which accused me of trying to sensationalize the topics serving political ends and emphasized that we are within a framework for completion of the evaluation.
“Those who blame us that we didn’t close the assessment in December to be placed on the field of battle, and to say clearly that we have to agree surpluses of 3.5% in the next ten years”.
“It is possible To.D. and PASOK, which have undermined collective bargaining and reduced the minimum wage to shake their finger?”, he wondered and added that “you need a cool head and togetherness within the country and the political controversy within some limits”.
In response finally to a question, the vice-president of the government said that it prefers an agreement with their lenders, “to be voted by 153 and any other members want, as an act of responsibility towards the country”.