The Hellenic Radio (ERA): News in English, 10-03-18

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From: The Hellenic Radio (ERA) <www.ert.gr/>

CONTENTS

[01] Greek PM: Contribution Based on Real Possibilities

Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou addressed Thursday evening the cabinet meeting he chaired. "It is everyone's duty towards the country to contribute based on their real possibilities," stressed the Prime Minister.

"The government is not asking for, nor is it going to ask for financial aid from the EU and the International Monetary Fund, which would be our last resort. The cabinet will hold a meeting anew on coming Tuesday to reach final decisions on taxation, after taking into consideration the recommendations and the proposals of the cabinet members and the PASOK lawmakers. Through deliberations, even if they are brief, the government has the ability to make structural moves when weaknesses are recorded," added the Greek Premier.

Shifting his attention to the Eurogroup and Ecofin sittings, Papandreou termed them as positive. He then went on to add that Greece is waiting for the EU to confirm its support at the Summit scheduled to take place on 25 and 26 March. George Papandreou underlined that during his stay in Brussels he conveyed the Greek positions and vied to paint a positive picture of Greece, which is not inhabited by an irresponsible people but commits itself to its decisions.

"The stake of the crisis is whether there is the will and the boldness to have the markets at the service of the people and not the other way round. What Greece is after is not a financial aid, but to borrow under favourable conditions," argued the Greek Prime Minister.

Reforms and Changes

Finally, George Papandreou maintained: "The government is making deep and radical changes with a view to safeguarding a fairer taxation system, as well as growth, lest that Greece should reach again the situation it is now. The tax draft-bill is the first decisive step for the income redistribution. The taxation system had been a tool that favoured the reproduction and the build-up of social injustice and we are putting an end to this. All incomes will be taxed the same way and we are making a revolutionary change to crack down tax evasion. There will be zero tolerance to tax evaders. Never before in the country's recent history has a government been called on to take such important decision and to carry out such radical reforms in such a small period of time."

Source: ANA News item: 34489

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