WASHINGTON (Sputnik) – This comes after WikiLeaks published a transcript of a phone call between IMF European Department chief Poul Thomsen and the IMF Mission Chief for Greece Delia Velculescu where they agreed that a threat of imminent financial catastrophe was needed to make Athens agree to tighter austerity.
"We do not comment on leaks or supposed reports of internal discussions. We have stated clearly what we think is needed for a durable solution to the economic challenges facing Greece — one that puts Greece on a path of sustainable growth supported by a credible set of reforms matched by debt relief from its European partners," the statement circulating in the media and cited by the International Business Times read.
Greek government spokeswoman Olga Gerovasili announced on Saturday Greece asked the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to explain whether it was planning to coerce Athens into new austerity measures.
The IMF, European Central Bank and Eurozone nations sealed a deal with Greece last summer, approving a third bailout package of around $97 billion in exchange for unpopular austerity reforms.
The Greek economy has been severely strained for several years, because of the country’s multibillion debt accumulated after the 2008 global economic crisis.
