Prime Minister, all German wonder if Greece ever repaying its debts. Would you bet on your own salary? (κάτι που προτείναμε μεταξύ σοβαρού και αστείου σε παλαιότερη ανάρτηση... )
Διαβάστε στο taxalia την απάντηση αλλά και την συνέχεια της συνέντευξης...
Bet you never pay back your debt?
PHOTO: Prime Minister, all German wonder if Greece ever repaying its debts. Would you bet on your own salary?
Giorgos Papandreou (laughing): "Wait! I do not have that much money. Finally I have my salary - and that all ministers - of our cost-cutting measures reduced by 20 percent ... "
BILD interview with Greece's Premier George Papandreou (58).
Papandreou with the image editors Jörg Quoos (left) and Nikolaus Blome (R.)
BILD: Do you have trimmed even with the ludicrous pensions, for example, for unmarried daughters of former generals? In Germany, where all have to work to 67 years, we have little understanding of such things ...
Papandreou: "The pension system in Greece has proliferated over decades and was at the end impenetrable. We have changed. We have made up reforms, months for other countries have used for decades within. Women are, for example, not as isolated cases occurred, with 45, but all with 65 years in retirement. This is a huge leap. "
IMAGE: Nearly one in four workers is employed by the state in Greece. This can not go!
Papandreou: "It's true: In the past, each minister was just so people in the public sector to place his order to secure votes to. That was cronyism. But we change. There is new political culture in Greece we have one. For five retired officers of the future is set. "
BILD: Do you understand the anger of German tax payers to pay for a country need that has not done his homework?
Papandreou: "First of all: There are loans for which we pay interest and no gifts! And we want the credit so not to leave everything to how it was. But for the changes needed to gain time. But I understand some resentment of the Germans. I can only thank them. "
BILD: You have not thanked you as IMAGE proposed to sell Greek islands to reduce debt ...
Papandreou: "... No, I did not thank me. Such a thing is impossible. You just have to understand the importance of islands for the Greeks and the Greek story, those. We have spent enormous sums in the defense budget to near the Turkish coast to the islands. In addition, the islands are a cultural heritage, including German tourists appreciate this. If we Islands a few super-rich sell ours, they are all blocked it. We want unique natural landscape and ecological development of this carefully, that brings a lot more. "
IMAGE: Greek governments have invested heavily with statistics cheating and hiding the true state of public finances. What happened to the person responsible?
Papandreou: "It's under investigation and several methods to do so. We now have a fully independent statistical agency. € each, which the government spends, you can read in the Internet today. We are transparent in the finances than any other EU country - even more transparent than Germany. "
BILD: How long endure the harsh austerity voters in Greece? Even with your visit here in Berlin protest demonstrations some Greek against your policy ...
Papandreou: "demonstrations have always been to us Greeks. But my government has welcomed recent regional elections a referendum on the reforms made - and we won. "
IMAGE: The markets seem not to trust the efforts of Greece continues ...
Papandreou: "We have the last 15 months made drastic cuts in - more than many other governments together! None of us have thought that, but we did it. We do so not only for Greece but for the whole euro zone. Also benefit from the Germans. "
IMAGE: Greece is currently negotiating an extension of the debt. How are the markets to trust you there?
Papandreou: "I'll be honest: The total debt of Greece 2012 will continue to rise, as are longer repayment periods, just realistic. And the markets do not look so much on specific dates, but whether a plan is prudent and achievable. "
PICTURE: And if Greece for a time the euro area leaves?
Papandreou: "No, that makes no sense. Any more than it would have meaning for Germany, € abandoning. It would allow banks to collapse and hence the economy . "
IMAGE: If the big question is what the euro area has actually believe that the Greeks are in the process - except deficit and debt ...
Papandreou: "Europe has a lot of it! I will mention only two advantages: First, we buy a lot of German products and services, which will secure jobs at. And secondly, we are an anchor of stability in the region, particularly in view of the Balkans and the current turmoil in the Arab countries around the Mediterranean. These are our neighbors, with whom we maintain close contacts. Large waves of refugees from this region would present major problems of Europe. We Greeks can do a lot there. "
