The Greek government is sending a double message to its European partners and the country’s creditors ahead of the emergency Eurogroup meeting to be held in five days and in the wake of Berlin’s and European Central Bank’s (ECB) persistent attitude toward the new government’s intention to renegotiate the Greek bailout program. First, the newly elected Greek government has welcomed the emergency Eurgoup announcement, noting that Finance Minister Yanis Varoufakis will at last have the chance to fully present the government’s plan “which meets the fresh mandate given by the Greek people for a mutually beneficial agreement achieved in a short period of time.” And second, Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras, during the government’s program presentation on Sunday, is expected to declare that his government is not willing to take a step back from what has promised prior to the January 25 election. “We will really impress you and will not follow the beaten track,” government spokesperson Gavriil Skellaridis said earlier today in an interview with “Vima FM.” The government has witnessed the European partners’ negativity, although it considers it a part of the ongoing negotiation process and are awaiting the outcome of the upcoming meeting between US President Barack Obama and German Chancellor Angela Merkel, which is scheduled for Monday, in order to establish if Washington is indeed supportive toward the Greek renegotiation proposal aiming at cancelling austerity measures. While everything suggests that Athens will be squeezed to either come to an agreement during the regular Eurogroup meeting on February 16, while submitting its own proposals for the progress of reforms and the exit from the crisis, or request a second extension of the existing program. The government denied information where allegedly Finance Ministry officials said that “we cannot sign the program, the government will fall. We will stick to our decision and will suffer any consequences.” The Greek government has declared that such statements have nothing to do with reality. However, whether such statements were made by Finance Minister junior officials or not, Sakellaridis clarified that the government is not willing to enter a discussion with ultimatums.
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