Juncker: limited room for maneuver to relieve Greek debtFebruary 3, 2015 - 16:11 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker signaled on Tuesday, Feb 3, that there is limited room for maneuver to accommodate the demands of the new Greek government as he prepares to meet with Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras, the Wall Street Journal reports. Tsipras is due in Brussels on Wednesday morning to meet Juncker among others. It is the Greek leader’s first trip to Brussels since taking office last week. He is also visiting Rome and Paris this week as he seeks to drum up support for his government’s push for greater leniency on its debt repayments. “I have already said to him twice on the telephone that we have to take account of the democratic expression of the Greek people,” Juncker told lawmakers in the European Parliament, referring to the Greek leader. “But I think those who won the elections will also have to take account of the way in which others do things and the convictions of others.” “So yes, we are going to have to do a certain amount, but we aren't going to change everything because of one electoral result that some people like and some people don’t like,” he said. Juncker said the EU executive hasn't always got right the balance between fiscal consolidation, growth and job creation. However, he said those suggesting there were no real constraints on the bloc’s budgetary position weren't credible, according to the Journal. “What we have done over recent years hasn’t necessarily always taken account of growth…So I do think we have to correct the errors we have made in the past,” Juncker said. “What I don’t think we should do is simply replace what we have already had with its exact opposite. That will basically send us to the wall.” Top stories Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev arrived in Moscow on April 22 to hold talks with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". Partner news | Ucom Celebrates Telecommunication Day May 17 commemorates the founding of the International Telecommunication Union on May 17, 1865. Armenian, Azerbaijani heads of parliament meet in Switzerland President of the Armenian parliament Alen Simonyan met with the Speaker of the Azerbaijani Milli Majlis Sahiba Gafarova. Border residents overnight on highway to protest Armenia’s Residents of Kirants continue to express outrage over the government’s decision to cede land to Azerbaijan. Get Started: An educational platform for young startuppers The Get Started program which operates in two phases is an important platform for young startuppers. |