World Business

IMF experts to have new talks with Greek on economy

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2010-04-06 23:59

ATHENS - A group of International Monetary Fund (IMF) auditors is expected in Athens on Wednesday for a new round of talks with Greek officials concerning the progress of the cash-strapped country's exit plan from its economic crisis.

According to Greek government sources, the talks will focus on technical assistance regarding the fight against wide-spread tax evasion, one of the major reasons behind the economic woes Greece faces today.

A Greek official, who spoke anonymously to the press, also rejected rumors that Greece seeks changes in the deal that was struck by EU member states leaders in Brussels a few days ago concerning the role the IMF will hold in the support mechanism for countries in need of aid.

According to the scenario that was published in the Market News International and was rejected by Athens, the Greek government wants to renegotiate the agreement and leave the IMF out of the support mechanism.

Greek senior officials are said to have expressed fears of social unrest, as the IMF will certainly insist on harsher measures, while the Greek society is not ready yet for more sacrifices and still strongly protests against the first string of measures adopted.

Vice President Theodoros Pangalos, in an interview in a Portuguese newspaper earlier Tuesday, did not exclude the possibility of Greece turning to the EU-IMF support mechanism "if speculative games will not stop."

Pangalos also warned that Portugal could be the next target and repeated criticism against Germany for a "racist approach" to the latest crisis that concerns Greece and the whole EU.