Greece ‘regaining trust’

Greece’s agreement for further cooperation with China is a sign that the country is regaining its international credibility, Prime Minister George Papandreou said yesterday in Brussels, as the trustworthiness of his government on the domestic stage took another blow when it had to replace one of its candidates for local elections after it was revealed that the office seeker had been charged in connection with an alleged property scam.

Speaking on the sidelines of the EU-China summit in the Belgian capital, Papandreou presented the deals agreed to last weekend by Athens and Beijing as proof that Greece is beginning to recover from the economic crisis and that its partners can trust the country again. “The visit by the Chinese premier [Wen Jiabao] was a vote of confidence, not only in Greece but in Europe and the euro,” said Papandreou at the end of the meeting, during which Europeans urged China for a faster appreciation of its currency to help rebalance the world economy.

However, presented with an opportunity to address foreign journalists, Papandreou was keen to focus on the strides that Greece has made over the last few months. “A year ago, we were on the edge of a precipice, but today the effort and sacrifices of the Greek people are helping us rebuild trust internationally. Greece is not the same country it was last year.”

News source: Ekathimerini link: article