We are not far away from the end of the course, Alt. Administrative Restructuring Minister Katrougalos says

"At the political negotiation both sides' political volition for agreement was confirmed, but we do not want whatever agreement, we want an agreement that will secure that the Greek economy will recover. That it will include growth and not only recession characteristics, we want an agreement that will reduce that debt and an agreement that will not send all the burden to the weaker and to the middle class," he said adding that "I have the certainty that we will succeed such an agreement not only because we are negotiating based on our campaign programme and our "red lines" but mostly because we have the support of the Greek people's majority."

Asked if the IMF's withdrawal makes that negotiations more difficult, Katrougalos replied: "The IMF always had independent opinions, for example it agrees with us that the debt is not sustainable and it needs restructuring, however it follows a neoliberal agenda attested in several statements. We respect the positions of all our partners in the negotiations even the positions with which we are in deep ideological opposition. We want, however, to hope that despite IMF's withdrawal in the end we will have an overall agreement".

Source: anampa.gr