PM announces completion of negotiations, says substantial improvements achieved at last minute

Prime Minister Antonis Samaras announced completion of the negotiation on the measures and the budget, in a written statement on Tuesday, adding that significant improvements were achieved up to the last minute.

"We completed today the negotiation on the measures and the budget. We did everything possible. We exhausted all the margins for pressure and of time. We achieved substantial improvements, even at the last minute," he said.

"Provided this agreement is approved and the budget is passed, Greece will remain in the euro, and it will come out of the crisis," he added.

"Beyond the agreement, I am already trying for more than 31 billion Euros to be given to Greece, so that there will be a tangible result in the real economy. The problem from here on is not this or that measure. The problem is precisely the opposite: what could happen if the agreement is not ratified and the country is led to chaos. And how much more painful such a development would be for the entire Greek people, from the economic aspect and -- even worse -- from the political aspect," Samaras continued.

"These dangers must be avoided. And it is now up to the sense of responsibility of all the parties and each MP individually," the prime minister concluded.

SOURCE: ATHENS NEWS AGENCY

October 31, 2012