Slovak News Back to the news
SDKU Remains Opposed to Idea of Slovakia Providing Loan to Greece
Friday 07 May 2010 Zoom in | Print page
Bratislava, May 7 (TASR) - Far it be from us to try to hamper parliaments of fellow eurozone countries in helping debt-ridden Greece, but we continue to be opposed to the idea of Slovakia providing a loan to Athens, election leader of major Opposition SDKU-DS party Iveta Radicova told a press conference on Friday.
Her comments came in the wake of a statement made by Prime Minister Robert Fico earlier in the day. Prior to his setting off for a summit of leaders of eurozone countries in Brussels later on Friday, Fico said that Slovakia will sign a general agreement enabling eurozone members to provide bilateral loans to Greece.
"The premier has assumed this mandate by himself and he will bear full responsibility for it. Unlike other eurozone members, he hasn't asked the Slovak Parliament for a mandate. However, the decision on providing the loan will be up to Parliament in the end," said Radicova.
She stressed that the loan itself won't be sufficient for Greece, and that a 'pyramid scheme' will be launched in Europe unless Greece adopts further saving measures.
According to Fico, who was speaking after a meeting with representatives of trade unions and employer associations, providing a loan to Greece is the only viable option. He added that his signature will allow countries that are ready to lend money to Greece to activate the mechanism immediately. If Slovakia refuses to sign the agreement, the rest of the eurozone would be prevented to act, stressed Fico.
"Slovakia has no interest in preventing other states providing immediate bilateral loans," said Fico.
The agreement will still be subject to a ratification process in Parliament, however. Fico noted that the matter will be discussed by the new legislature after the June 12 election.
All rights reserved. Any publishing or further dissemination of press releases and photographs from TASR's resources without TASR's prior written approval constitutes a violation of the Copyrights Act.
