Greek gov't rejects cooperation with troika, new bailout extension

Greece's new Left-led government rejected cooperation with troika auditors and would not request a new extension of the bailout program which expires in late February, Greek Finance Minister Yanis Varoufakis told reporters in Athens on Friday.

"Our government will move forward seeking the maximum cooperation with the legal institutions of the euro zone, the European Union and the International Monetary Fund, but not with a committee which oversees the implementation of a program that we have rejected as anti- European," Varoufakis said during a press conference at the end of the visit of Euro group head Jeroen Dijsselbloem to the Greek capital.

Dijsselbloem's visit essentially marked the start of a round of talks between Greece and its international lenders on the amendment of bailout terms after anti-austerity Radical Left SYRIZA's victory in the January 25 Greek general elections.

"We have no intention of cooperating with a commission which according to the European parliament was flimsily structured," the Greek official added, referring to the representatives of Greece's creditors who have been appointed to assess the Greek program over the past five years.

"Our first action as a government will not be the rejection of the rationale of the economic program Greek people voted us for by submitting a request for the extension of the bailout," Varoufakis stressed.

He concluded highlighting that Friday's meeting was held in an excellent atmosphere and that it will serve as a basis for good cooperation.

"We are ready to move forward to the future together," the Dutch official said, noting that Greece's economic recovery was to the mutual benefits of Europe and the euro zone.

Dijsselbloem noted that it was up to the Greek government to clarify its stance over the way it believes the debt crisis could be resolved.

However he warned against a possible derailment from ongoing efforts to overcome the debt crisis, noting that significant progress has been achieved to bring Greek economy back on the right track in recent years and should not go to waste.

Dijsselbloem also underlined that any further European support to Greece was linked to the fulfillment of commitments undertaken by previous administrations related to the bailout deals signed since 2010.

Taking unilateral steps was not the way to follow, he stressed.

Accompanied by the Euro Working Group chief Thomas Wieser, the Dutch official held talks with Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras, Varoufakis and other officials of the administration which took office on Tuesday following the January 25 legislative elections.

Tsipras asked Dijsselbloem to "relay a message of good will for a new and mutually beneficial solution between Greece and its international lenders," according to the Greek national news agency AMNA which cited government sources.

During the joint press conference at the Finance Ministry Varoufakis echoed Tsipras' pledges that the government was determined to proceed to sweeping reforms to tackle the crisis at its roots by combating corruption, tax evasion and boosting competitiveness.

Athens' alternative plan to resolve the crisis, Varoufakis said, will not create new budget deficits, but will be focused on dealing with the humanitarian crisis caused by the harsh austerity policies of the previous five year.

SYRIZA's idea of a write-off of part of the debt burden has not received a warm welcome by the country's creditors, fuelling scenarios of a possible confrontation which could lead to a Greek financial meltdown and exit from the euro zone.

The new Greek government has called for an international meeting to debate the best way to resolve the Greek sovereign debt load and make it sustainable to the benefit of all sides.

Dijsselbloem stressed on Friday during the press conference that there was no need for such an international meeting, since dialogue continues within the euro zone.

European Parliament President Martin Schulz was on Thursday the first foreign official who visited Athens after the change of political leadership for talks.

Varoufakis has arranged meetings with his British, French and Italian counterparts next week. Enditem