GREEK PM SAMARAS ESPECIALLY SATISFIED WITH ECONOMY'S IMPROVEMENT

Prime Minister Antonis Samaras on Monday evening said he was especially satisfied with the course of the country’s economy, and appeared certain that Monday's Eurogroup would approve the disbursement of the May and June tranches of financial aid to Greece, which together amount to a total of 7.5 billion euros. As the prime minister was speaking, Eurogroup approved the disbursement of the two tranches.

Addressing the general assembly of the Federation of Hellenic Enterprises (SEV), held at the Athens Concert Hall, the premier noted that conditions are now very positive for Greece, following a favourable evaluation by the EC-ECB-IMF troika.

"We have already done a great deal in the past few months and the results are now coming to light," Samaras said, stressing however that risks have not been fully eliminated since the country remains in recession and unemployment is especially high.

"We have not yet escaped dangers; we have overcome neither the recession nor unemployment. But the country's image has changed and psychology is improving, while major structural changes are starting to bear fruit and fiscal control has been restored."

The premier outlined that targets are being achieved and “things are going even better” than expected.

"I do not simply want Greece to do better than what others expect of her. I want Greece to do much better than what they can imagine. I want Greece to do even better because we can," Samaras said.

He mentioned as an example the improvement of liquidity that will result from the recapitalization of banks, as well as the disbursement of funds of the National Strategic Reference Framework (ESPA) and the repayment of the state's overdue debts to the private sector.

"Greece will regain prosperity through sustainable growth, in dignity," Samaras said, setting investments as the government’s top priority aimed at reducing unemployment, achieving economic and political stability and successfully implementing reforms.