Greek Govt VP Dragasakis: We Will Make Dialogue, Not Blackmail

“Since Sunday evening Greece is a country with its own proposals. We understand that the other countries also have their own suggestions, their own parliaments and we talk about dialogue, not mutual blackmailing,” government Vice President Giannis Dragasakis underlined earlier today while exiting a meeting with Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras.

Asked about today’s Athens Stock Exchange “crash” and in particular about the large decline in the banking sector, Dragasakis noted that “we had a lot of crashes in recent years, both in society and the stock market,” noting that turbulence comes usually after every government change. “Our concern is the proper functioning of banks,” he added.

Answering journalists questions, ahead of the Friday visits from European Parliament President Martin Schulz and Eurogroup President Jeroen Dijsselbloem, the government Vice President noted that the state will exercise its rights regarding the banks but will not prejudice the interests of private shareholders, adding that “we are open to suggestions.” In particular, Dragasakis pointed out that the current government does not seek rupture nor the continuation of a “policy that leads to destruction.”

Regarding the support of vulnerable population groups, he clarified that the aim is not to impinge on Public Power Corporation (PPC), Hellenic Telecommunications Organization (OTE) and Water Supply and Drainage Company (EYDAP). “We want to support these organizations, we will not burden them, the citizens’ aid will be funded from other sources,” he explained.

Asked about the upcoming meeting with Dijsselbloem, he said that the Greek side “will express its proposals on how Greece will come out of the impasse and Europe will not need to give us money.” Concluding, he stressed that as a new government “what we have received from Europe is a very positive climate,” emphasizing that “the existing Memorandum has expired.”