Samaras: Greece can cover own needs

“We feel fully comfortable” that Greece can cover its financing needs from the bond markets in the coming years, Samaras, said in an interview in Milan yesterday after a European Union summit.

“Samaras’ confidence contrasts with fellow euro-area and IMF officials, who insist Greece should retain access to bailout funds next year. The prevailing view among those officials is that Greece’s market access remains fragile, according to two people directly involved in the negotiations”, Bloomberg adds.

Ending aid payouts wouldn’t mean “a divorce” with Greece’s public creditors, Samaras said in the Milan interview.

“We want to do it properly,” he said. Greece is prepared to negotiate an appropriate oversight role of its economy for the euro area and IMF, he added.

Asked how confident he is that Greece can survive without support, Samaras said: “absolutely.”