“The Greek Parliament decided to hold a referendum and announced it for 5 July. We respect the decision of Greece and its right to a referendum as it is a prerogative of every sovereign state. Being a member of the euro area, Greece has the right to address partners over financial aid and this aid could be provided based on existing agreements and available resources,” the presidential advisor told the radio Žinių Radijas on Tuesday.
Vaisbrodas emphasised that the situation in Greece did not endanger the entire eurozone or its stability – the euro area is ready and has financial instruments to respond in case its currency faces danger, he said.
President Dalia Grybauskaitė‘s advisor said that the Greek government had plenty of time to consult with its people because creditors issued their latest proposal in February. However, a decision was made to ask people’s opinion only in the last stage, when it was time to act.
“We will be awaiting the results of the referendum hoping they improve the situation of the people of Greece,” said Vaisbrodas.
Meanwhile President Grybauskaitė said in an interview published on Tuesday that Greece should not expect financial support from other countries, if its political elite did not take responsibility.
According to the president, the main burden of the Greek drama will be put on the shoulders of the Greek people, even though the crisis was caused by irresponsible actions of their government.
“The Greek government, the Greek state and people need to understand that they need to behave more responsibly and take their own problems in their own hands. We are always ready to help, we always will be standing behind and we will not allow Greek people to suffer. But there are conditions. You cannot ask either Croatian people, or Lithuanians to pay for the country if its political elite does not take responsibility for its behavior and economic performance. So it is a way with both directions,” Grybauskaitė told the Croatian national television in the interview published by her press service.
Grybauskaitė believes Greece’s euro exit would spark huge problems for the country.
On Tuesday, 30 June, Greece faces the deadline to pay back a EUR 1.6 billion loan to the International Monetary Fund (IMF). However, it is unlikely that the debt will be settled today as Athens did not manage to reach an agreement with the IMF and the euro area creditors over extension of the bailout programme.
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