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France voices trust with Greek leaders in exiting debt crisis

16 June 2011 22:18 (UTC +04:00)

Baku-APA. France has confidence in Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou and his effort to lead the state out of the debt crisis, Foreign Ministry spokesman Bernard Valero said Thursday in the regular press briefing, APA reports quoting Xinhua.

Speaking of the expected announcement by Papandreou earlier in the day, Valero said: "We trust him to carry out the reshuffle of his government and to continue the courageous economic reform program agreed with the European Union and the International Monetary Fund."

The European Union share the common stance on the principle of supporting Greece, while the debates between European members on the Greek debt problem was about how to save it, instead of whether to bailout it out or not, the French spokesman stressed.

As market concerns over the Greek debt problem are rising, the Greek government has passed a new package of economic austerity plans, including cutting public spending and tax hikes. Papandreou has planned a cabinet reshuffle on Thursday in a bid to push forward the austerity measures, opposed by new waves of public protests on the streets.

European finance ministers will ponder over new bailout programs during a meeting on the following Sunday and Monday in Luxembourg.