PM: Goal is to lighten debt burden on Greek citizens

Prime Minister George Papandreou stressed late Sunday that "our goal is to lighten the burden of the debt that weighs down on the Greek citizens", in a statement at the end of a eurozone summit in Brussels, noting that the efforts of the Greek people have been acknowledged.

He added that Europe must take serious decisions of a European dimension.

Papandreou said that over the past two years the Greeks have made an unprecedented effort of an unprecedented fiscal adjustment.

"No citizen in any European country has shouldered such a burden in such a short time," Papandreou said, adding that "our effort is acknowledged by everyone."

"We are a proud people and we deserve respect," the Greek premier stressed.

Papandreou noted that the goal of the Greek side is to succeed in lightening the burden of the debt of the past, that weighs down on the Greek citizens, adding that, in order to solve decades-long problems, the country was proceeding with reforms and structural changes which, however, require time in order to produce results.

The premier said that the first stage began on Sunday of a tough negotiation that will address not only the Greek crisis but also the European crisis. "No problem will be solved if Europe itself does not take serious decisions that are of a Europe-wide dimension," he said, and expressed belief that the EU has the determination to create the conditions for growth, generating jobs, a competitive economy and social cohesion.

As for the Greek debt itself, Papandreou said the target is a viable solution that will include the private sector, and particularly the banks, in the distribution of the burden.

He further said that Greece is continuing to put its house in order. "With our credibility as the weapon, we are seeking a clearer, permanent solution for Greece and Europe," he said, adding that the negotiation was continuing, with Greece present, and with specific and clear-cut targets.

Opposition criticism

On Monday, Main opposition New Democracy said that the Papandreou's statement that the crisis was a European, and not a Greek, one was complete reversal of his position since coming to power.

"Yesterday he felt it necessary to state that the crisis was not Greek but European, forgetting that he had cultivated this conviction himself in order to harm New Democracy," New Democracy spokesman Yiannis Michelakis said, in his daily press briefing.

Michelakis argued that Papandreou had completely changed his tune now that the "unreliability and inefficiency of his government is being exposed"