As Greek Prime Minister Tsipras and President Prokopis Pavlopoulos hold talks regarding Greek’s future with the European Union, reactions from other countries have gained paramount importance for the nation.
France
Worried about the staggering state of the Europe’s one-single currency, the Euro, Minister of State for European Affairs, Harlem Désir has demanded that the Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras clarify what he wants to do from here on.
If having won back their pride they can return to negotiations, so much the better. It is up to the Greek government to make proposals now. What will determine whether it stays or leaves is the quality of negotiations that will start.
—Michel Sapin, Finanace Minister, France to Europe 1 radio
The French Finance Minister, on the other hand, believes in complete freedom of choice for Greece.
Even though a Greek source has indicated a phone conversation between Greek PM-President duo and French President Francois Hollande, the latter’s office has denied all speculations.
Germany
After Greece rejected all bailout proposals by its creditors on Sunday, the German government put its foot down and refused to say anything until Greece comes up with its own proposal to counter the imminent downfall.
According to sources in the Greek government, PM Tsipras, in a phone conversation with Germany’s Angela Merkel, agreed to present a Greek proposal for an aid deal at Tuesday’s European Union summit.
But the German economy, according to their spokesperson, has no place for Greek debt cuts on their agenda.
Russia
Russia hopes Greece will reach a deal with its international creditors as soon as possible, a Kremlin spokesman said on Monday, adding that questions regarding financial help for Greece should be addressed to Athens.
We want our Greek partners to reach the necessary compromises with creditors as soon as possible and take decisions which will allow for economic and social stability in the country in the best way.
—Dmitry Peskov, Spokesperson, Russia
Peskov said the Kremlin respected the outcome of Greece’s weekend bailout referendum and was closely following events in Greece.
The Greek PM-President duo will will have a phone conversation with Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin on Monday.
Britain
British Prime Minister David Cameron’s spokesperson said on Monday that it was in Britain’s interests for Greece to find a solution.
Clearly Greece and the eurozone need to sit down and talk through the implications of the result and what happens next. They need to find a sustainable solution.
—Spokesperson for David Cameron, Prime Minister, Britain
China
Deputy Chinese Foreign Minister Cheng Guoping said that he believed the Greek debt crisis would be “appropriately resolved”.
I believe that with the hard efforts of all sides, Greece’s economic situation will turn around. The economic crisis will be appropriately handled. Whether or not it can be appropriately handled will not only have an important impact on Greece and its people, but will have an important impact on ... the world too.
–Cheng Guoping, Deputy Chinese Foreign Minister
According to the Chinese Deputy Foreign Minister, China is confident that Greece’s economy will turn around with the hard work of all parties.
(With inputs from Reuters.)
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