FinMin: Greece Needs 'safe' Agreement with Creditors and Can Make It

Greece must keep a cool head, avoid bluster and arrive at an agreement with its creditors that is "safe" for the country, Greek Finance Minister Gikas Hardouvelis stressed on Tuesday after a meeting with Greek President Karolos Papoulias. He also appeared confident that the country will manage this in good time.

"In the final straight for the agreement concerning the 'day after' we are conscious of the responsibility. Our negotiation will be tough, honest and effective. We want an agreement that will take the country forward and we will achieve this," he underlined as he emerged from an hour-long meeting with Papoulias.

Saying that he had briefed the president on the progress in the negotiations with the troika representing Greece's international creditors, as well as the state of the economy, he underlined the need to keep a cool head. "There is no point to the bluster that is usually for the benefit of public opinion at home. This country has been paying for this [kind of behaviour] for years now and always after the fact. We must arrive at an agreement with the creditors that is safe for the country and we will make it," he said.