Greece to keep on repaying int’l creditors “as long as it can”May 25, 2015 - 16:16 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Struggling Greece will keep on repaying for as long as it can its EU-IMF creditors, who have demanded reforms and withheld release of the country's remaining bailout funds, a spokesman said Monday, May 25, according to AFP. "To the extent that we are able to pay, we will keep on repaying these obligations," government spokesman Gabriel Sakellaridis told reporters. He added: "It is the government's responsibility to be able to repay all these obligations.... It is also the responsibility of the creditors to be faithful to (their) loan obligations." Sakellaridis's remarks came a day after a cabinet minister said Greece had "no money" to make a series of repayments to the International Monetary Fund from June 5. "The instalments for the IMF in June are 1.6 billion euros ($1.8 billion). This money will not be given. There isn't any to be given. This is a known fact," Interior Minister Nikos Voutsis said on Sunday. Greece's radical-left government has been locked in negotiations with its creditors -- the IMF, the European Union and the European Central Bank -- for the past four months in a bid to unlock some 7.2 billion euros in bailout cash. The Syriza-led government, which was elected in January on an anti-austerity platform, has so far refused to agree to key economic reforms that the creditors want in exchange for the rescue funds. But with a punishing debt repayment schedule in the next three months, the country now desperately needs those funds. Last week, the parliamentary spokesman for Syriza had also said that the government would be unable to honour repayment to the IMF as its priority is to pay salaries, pensions and running costs. "No country can repay its debts with only the money from its budget," Nikos Filis told Ant1 television. Top stories Yerevan has dismissed Turkey’s demand to shut down the Armenian nuclear power plant as “inappropriate”. Armenia will loan 2.9 billion drams to Nagorno Karabakh (Artsakh), according to a draft government decision. The Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of Azerbaijan has “strongly condemned” Armenia’s decision. Kerobyan has said that for the first time in the history of Armenia, the volume of foreign direct investments amounted to about $1 billion. Partner news | European Parliament to discuss repression in Azerbaijan The European Parliament will discuss repression of civil society in Azerbaijan on April 24 PACE wants concessions from Azerbaijan to accept Baku back A PACE co-rapporteur said that Azerbaijani authorities must make certain concessions so that the country can return to PACE. Cyprus parliament honors Armenian genocide victims Acting House President Zacharias Koulias noted that April 24 marks the “black anniversary” of the Armenian genocide. Armenia PM, France envoy discuss regional matters Issues related to the consistent development of Armenia-France cooperation were discussed. |