Samaras aide: ND leader won't sign - The Best from Greece

A New Democracy advisor says the party's leader, Antonis Samaras, will not sign a letter committing the himself to the terms of EU-IMF bailout-loan deals, despite a European threat to cut off rescue funding to Greece.

 

Failos Kranidiotis told Skai television on Wednesday that repeated verbal commitments by Samaras were sufficient and that the party leader would not give in to EU demands for a more specific written commitment.

 

EU officials have frozen rescue loans until party leaders backing the new coalition government sign the letter, arguing the action is essential for eurozone countries to provide longterm support.

 

Jean-Claude Juncker, the Luxembourg prime minister and Eurogroup chairman, renewed the threat on Tuesday at a meeting with Prime Minister Lucas Papademos.

 

Papademos said that he was confident that "party leaders will fulfil their duty" and provide the written assurances. (Athens News/gw)