Comments 10:10 31/01/2015

‘Pigs might fly; Greece will pay its debt to EU’

Greece will inevitably get a debt haircut as it’s not able to cope with the €240 billion bailout loan given by the EU, Hugh Bronson from the Alternative for Germany party told RT. No national structure is able to cope with that amount of debt, he added.

Greece refused to back the EU’s statement on Ukraine on Tuesday. Following the move, Athens was accused by the EU of diverting from the block’s official stance on that issue. European Parliament President Martin Schulz said that he “was appalled to see Greece abandon the joint position of the EU.”

On Thursday, EU foreign ministers voted to extend the anti-Russian sanctions over the situation in Ukraine till September.

RT: Greece wants a chunk of its debt cancelled, but would that be fair given that billions of taxpayers' money has been sent there, particularly from your country?

Hugh Bronson: I believe [German Finance Minister] Wolfgang Schauble and the Troika, and everyone else involved have no chance but to negotiate a new deal with Mr. [Alexis] Tsipras. There will be a haircut, there is no question about it, and the only question is when. If you look at Greece and just the figures, you have a country of 11.5 million people, who managed a GDP of €208 billion in 2013. They are burdened with a national debt of 175 percent. That country was given a bailout loan totaling €240 billion. No national structure is able to cope with that amount of debt. This money is a write-off. Pigs might fly; we can say good-bye to this loan, there’s no question about this.

RT: Greece with a new government doesn’t want to follow EU policy on sanctions anymore. Where do you stand with that fact?

HB: I believe Greece right now has much more serious problems than joining in on sanctions, which are very questionable. They are looking at rebuilding their economy. They want to regain their competitive advantage in the global market. That is the number one priority. Also the main party [which is] in power right now, Syriza, certainly will look twice before it agrees on sanctions against Russia. First of all, they have to deal with their own national problems before they join in any big mashes on an international level.

RT: You are talking about a haircut and the fact that they can’t pay off this money because they simply don’t have it. However, the President of the European Commission Jean-Claude Juncker has ruled out forgiving Greece's debt. What do you make of that?

HB: Of course he is going to say that. What else is he going to say? But on the other hand, there are other serious people, serious experts. Take Philippe Legrain, the former economic adviser to the president of the European Commission who quite clearly said [that] Greece needs a haircut. Greece’s debts are unsustainably large. What is the Troika, what is the eurozone is going to do? If Mr. Tsipras and the government simply refuse to continue with the austerity measures, if they, what they’ve started already, if they are rehiring fired public sector workers, and simply ignore the demands from the eurozone .The only position they have – to renegotiate. 



Source Panorama.am
Share |
Տեքստում սխալ կամ վրիպակ նկատելու դեպքում, ուղարկեք խմբագրին հաղորդագրություն` նշելով տվյալ սխալը, այնուհետև սեղմելով Ctrl-Enter:

Newsfeed

17:19
Pashinyan could recall CSTO after Aliyev's remarks, top Russian official says
Deputy Chairman of the Russian Security Council Dmitry Medvedev claims that Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan could recall the...
16:46
Over 137,000 people evacuated amid Los Angeles wildfires
At least five wildfires are raging in Los Angeles - the two largest cover more than 27,000 acres and are 0% contained, BBC News reports....
16:30
Fog expected to hits some parts of Armenia
Dry weather is expected in Armenia's regions on Thursday and over the next few days. No precipitation is forecast for the capital...
16:05
Kremlin doubts Armenia can be member of both EU and EAEU
Armenia can hardly be a member of both the European Union and the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said at a...
15:36
MP calls for int'l action to prevent Azeri aggression against Armenia
Opposition lawmaker Tigran Abrahamyan has warned that Azerbaijani is planning fresh aggression against Armenia, calling on international actors...
15:00
Russia to continue building relations with Armenia, Azerbaijan, Kremlin says
Moscow is committed to peace, stability, and security in the Caucasus and will continue to strengthen relations with both Baku and Yerevan,...
14:38
Expert: Armenian leadership lacks 'plan B' for possible war
Political analyst Suren Sargsyan has called out the Armenian authorities for failure to handle security challenges facing the country....
14:06
Catholicos Aram I closely following California wildfire crisis
In recent hours, His Holiness Catholicos Aram I of the Great House of Cilicia has reached out multiple times to the Prelate of the Western...
13:36
US refrains from commenting on strategic partnership with Armenia for now
The United States “has nothing to comment on or announce at this point” regarding the potential signing of a strategic partnership...
13:08
Armenian government backs EU accession bid
The Armenian government has expressed support for a legislative initiative to launch a process for the country’s accession to the European...
12:36
Baku TV again falsely presents ancient Armenian church as Azerbaijani heritage
A pro-government TV channel in Baku has once again falsely presented the 7th-century Armenian monastery of Harichavank as part of...
12:00
Lucas Zelarayán returns to Belgrano
Belgrano de Córdoba has officially announced the return of Lucas Zelarayán after weeks of uncertainty, during which the club...
11:45
Fog hits Armenian town
The Rescue Service has warned drivers of a road closure in Armenia as of  Thursday morning. In particular, the road...
11:33
Hobart International: Elina Avanesyan through to semifinals
Armenian Elina Avanesyan, the No 6 seed, advanced to the last four of the Hobart International after American Amanda Anisimova, the No 3 seed,...
11:22
Armenian school destroyed in California wildfires
As the windstorm wreaking havoc across Los Angeles County continues to rage, its devastating impact has left thousands homeless, evacuated,...
17:07
Screen Actors Guild Awards cancel live nominations due to Los Angeles wildfires
The Screen Actors Guild Awards (SAG) nominations have cancelled an in-person announcement planned for today due to devastating wildfires and...
16:53
Ex-ombudsman urges escape from Armenian government's 'propaganda trap'
Former Armenian Ombudsman Arman Tatoyan has warned of existential threats facing Armenia following Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev’s...
16:11
Iran's top security official to visit Armenia after Azerbaijan tour
The secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) has arrived in the Azerbaijani capital, Baku, for political and security...
15:33
Aliyev, an aggressor, demands human behavior from others
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev seems to be rapidly "thriving" in his rhetoric. His brazen comments, especially after the...
14:34
Human metapneumovirus causes relatively mild symptoms, WHO says
“Amid reports of rising wintertime respiratory infections in China – including human metapneumovirus – and the impact on...
14:07
Armenian deputy sports minister resigns
Armenia’s Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sports Zhanna Andreasyan on Wednesday confirmed the resignation of her deputy,...
13:30
Pashinyan responds to Aliyev
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan responded to the latest statements by Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev in an interview with...
13:16
Meta ends fact-checking on Facebook, Instagram
Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg said Tuesday the social media giant was rolling back the use of third-party fact-checkers on its platforms, starting...
13:05
Armenian, Azeri border commissions to hold fresh talks soon
The Armenian and Azerbaijani border delimitation commissions, led by the deputy prime ministers of the two countries, will hold a new round of...
12:36
Aliyev's threats against Armenia should serve as a 'wake-up call', politician warns
Opposition politician Eduard Sharmazanov has warned that Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev’s fresh threats against Armenia should serve...
12:05
Hobart International: Elina Avanesyan advances to quarterfinals
Armenian Elina Avanesyan, the No 6 seed, defeated Belgian qualifier Greet Minnen 6-2, 6-2 to move into the quarterfinals of the WTA...
11:30
Rescuers in Armenia free 4 stranded vehicles in one day
The crisis management centers of Kotayk and Aragatsotn Provinces received reports of vehicles trapped on several roads in Armenia over the past...
11:20
Lladro produces 'Karabagh Horse' porcelain figurines as propaganda for Azerbaijan
By Harut Sassounian www.TheCaliforniaCourier.com Regrettably, the only things that matter in this world are money and power. All the...
11:11
Trump says meeting with Putin possible after inauguration
U.S. President-elect Donald Trump has said again that he is eager to see negotiations with Russia on ending the war in Ukraine begin soon after...
17:00
Winter military draft kicks off in Armenia
The winter conscription for compulsory military service commenced in Armenia on Tuesday. A solemn ceremony was held at the Sardarapat...

Follow us and get updates!

Most popular articles

{"core.blocks.header.spell_message1":"Selected mistake: ","core.blocks.header.spell_message2":"Send a message about the mistake?"}