17 October 2011, 17:55  Papandreou calls for 'decisive' EU

Greek Prime Minister Georges Papandreou called on the European Union to resolve the debt crisis buffeting Greece and the eurozone "collectively and decisively" in an interview Sunday in the Proto Thema weekly. "The hour has come to act collectively and decisively," Papandreou said. "I am convinced that Europe can and will do so, so that we can lead Greece and Europe safely out of the crisis." He vowed that Greece would abide by all of its commitments, but said: "We are not like Atlas, able to shoulder all the problems of Europe on his own. No European country can, not even Germany." Europe vowed to its G20 partners Saturday that the eurozone would present a comprehensive plan to resolve the debt crisis as early as next weekend, at a summit of EU leaders in Brussels. In time for the summit, the Greek government is due to vote on October 20 a new set of austerity measures demanded by the EU and International Monetary Fund. "Our fight is to guarantee that Greece does not leave the euro (and) to protect the interests of the overwhelming majority of citizens, for whom it would be a veritable catastrophe if the country defaulted," Papandreou said. "I would like to guarantee to all an immediate solution, a better life today, but I cannot," he said. He ruled out resigning, a possibility put forward by the media in September, and also shelved the option of a government of national unity, another scenario mooted by the press.

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