Hatzidakis: Greece from a weak link has turned into an international example of success

They see the figures for growth, public debt, primary surpluses, investment, exports, falling unemployment and the great progress that has been made.

Greece from a weak link has turned into an international example of success, pointed out the Minister of National Economy and Finance Kostis Hatzidakis, from Washington where he participated in the annual meeting of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank. Concluding his visit to the US capital he stated: “Greece has changed level in the last five years and from a weak link has turned into an example of success.

That was the central message from the meetings I had with representatives of the International Monetary Fund, high-ranking executives of investment and banking groups, rating agencies and economic analysts over the past three days in Washington. All those who congratulate the government on the performance of the Greek economy are neither doing it out of courtesy, nor do they have any obligation to us.

They see the figures for growth, public debt, primary surpluses, investment, exports, falling unemployment and the great progress that has been made.

They understand that we are implementing the right mix of economic policy and that we are determined to proceed with all the necessary reforms to take Greece even higher. But mostly they find that the Greek citizens have learned the lesson from the troubles of the last decade and for this reason they trust a responsible government that does not promise more than it can do. We are determined to be worthy of this trust. Greece will continue to walk the path of seriousness, resisting the sirens of populism”.