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Merkel rules out new negotiation before Greek referendum

Xinhua, July 1, 2015 Adjust font size:

German Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Wednesday that there would be no negotiation over a new bailout program to Greece before the country's referendum on Sunday, though the door for talks remained open.

"We are waiting for the referendum. Before the referendum, there will be no negotiation over a new aid program," she told the lower house of German parliament in a special session, adding that "we can wait calmly... Europe is strong, much stronger than five years ago when the European sovereign debt crisis started. "

"The future of Europe is not at stake," she said.

Merkel reiterated that the door to talks with Greek government "was always and will always remain open," but she would not seek compromise at any cost.

"A compromise can only be reached when advantages outweigh disadvantages," she said. "A good European is not someone who seeks an agreement at any price. A good European is rather the one that respects the European treaties and relevant national laws and help in this way to ensure that the stability of the euro zone is not damaged."

Her comments came after Greece submitted its latest proposals to international creditors, seeking to stave off a default and Grexit in coming weeks.

Earlier on Wednesday, German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble said that the proposals displayed no further clarity on what Greece wanted. As the second bailout program for Greece expired on Tuesday midnight, the situation had totally changed, and there was no basis for a new deal with Greece at the moment. Endit