ECB awaits for outcome of Greek referendum: central banker

The outcome of the referendum in Greece is extremely important for the European Central Bank (ECB), Vitor Constancio, vice-president of the ECB said on Friday.

Constancio's comments were made during a high-level conference held by the central bank of Lithuania here.

"The referendum is relevant exclusively, for us, because it affects the probabilities of the agreement regarding financial assistance and adjustment in Greece," the ECB vice-president said at a joint news conference with Vitas Vasiliauskas, the chairman of the board of the Bank of Lithuania, BNS news agency reported.

On Sunday, Greeks will vote in a referendum on whether it's government should accept creditors' terms for a new bailout deal.

Constancio declined to comment whether the referendum would be decisive concerning Greece's stay in the euro zone or whether there would be a so-called "Grexit".

"It is difficult to evaluate the reaction of markets, however, I believe, on the level of the ECB we have sufficient means to handle any situation," he stressed.

The ECB, which has recently frozen the level of emergency funding available to Greek banks, will be able to discuss the situation on Monday after the planned referendum in Greece, Constancio said.

Lithuania should not feel the effects of events in Greece since bilateral economic cooperation between the two countries is not high, Vasiliauskas noted during the press conference.

According to Vasiliauskas, the Greek referendum is a political issue which would have impact on negotiations with partners in the euro zone, the International Monetary Fund and the ECB. Endit