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Greek FM dismisses media reports over possible referendum on euro

Xinhua, March 8, 2015 Adjust font size:

Greek Finance Minister Yanis Varoufakis dismissed media reports on Sunday over a possible referendum for euro in Greece in case the country's creditors would not accept the government's policy program.

"If needed, we will turn to the Greek people again by holding fresh general elections or a referendum," Varoufakis said in an interview with Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera printed on Sunday.

The minister never implied that the referendum would be on the future of Greece' membership in the euro zone, a Greek Finance Ministry statement said.

"Greece' membership in the European common currency zone is not up to discussion ... Obviously in case of a referendum the question raised would concern the government's fiscal and reform agenda," the statement added.

Following a long string of "misinterpretations" of Varoufakis' statements by Greek and international media and "distortions and speculation over a forthcoming credit event," the ministry's statement blasted "the intentional or unintentional attempts to undermine the positive progress of talks between the Greek government and its partners."

The ministry statement concluded that the Feb. 20 euro group deal was moving along with no problems and that "Greece will meet all its financial obligations on time."

Under the Feb. 20 deal Greece won a four- month extension of the four-year bailout which expired on Feb. 28 to secure more aid by lenders and negotiate a final solution to the Greek debt crisis.

Under the agreement Athens would receive no financial assistance until April, and state coffers are under enormous pressure, fuelling scenarios of a credit crunch in coming weeks.

Varoufakis appeared confident that the final list of reforms Athens will implement in return of further vital support from its creditors would be completed in April.

Within Greece, six out of 10 citizens approved of the government's stance so far, against three out of 10 who were not happy, according to an opinion poll published by a Greek daily this weekend.

In February shortly after the Jan. 25 general elections eight out of 10 respondents were happy with the policies of the new Left-led government which has started to face protests over various issues. Endit