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Finland accepts 3rd support package for Greece

Xinhua, August 14, 2015 Adjust font size:

Finland is ready to accept the third support package to Greece and no longer insisting on the involvement of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Finnish Finance Minister Alexander Stubb said on Thursday.

The Finnish Parliamentary Grand Committee authorized the stand on Thursday in a vote 18-4, with parts of the opposition MPs backing the government.

Stubb said that Finland would do "it's utmost" to get the IMF involved, but noted the internal rules of the IMF made it unfeasible at this stage.

The situation could change after an intermediate assessment in October, Stubb said.

Within the Finnish coalition government, the decision was extremely difficult for the populist Finns Party members.

Finns Party chairman, Foreign Minister Timo Soini voted in favor after weighing the choice against the option of a cabinet crisis, media reported.

The Finns Party said they accepted the stand realizing that Finland would not be able to block it anyhow. The European group is expected to accept the plan on Friday. Endit