Turkey's Repayment of Greek Debt to IMF Would Be Effective Diplomatic Step

Turkey's repayment of Greece's 1.6-billion-euro ($1.8-billion) debt to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) will be an effective diplomatic step, sparing Athens from a default, the president of the Turkish People's Democratic Party, Ertugrul Kurkcu, told Sputnik Tuesday.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — Kurkcu has proposed that Turkey undertake Greek loan repayment to the IMF due to be made before Tuesday midnight.

"In my opinion, it would be a very effective diplomatic step that could prevent a Greek default, allow the country to hold a referendum peacefully and to express [Turkey's] solidarity with the Greek people," Kurkcu said.

He added that Turkey was not in a position to assume Athens' overall debt, but that the amount due to the IMF before the Tuesday midnight deadline is manageable for the country "to rescue Greece."

Commenting on the proposal, a lawmaker from the Greek ruling Syriza party, Sia Anagnostopoulou, told Sputnik that the mutual assistance and support of neighboring countries was a key factor in Europe's democracy and stability.

Greece's state debt exceeds $350 billion, of which $270 billion is owed to the European Central Bank (ECB), the IMF and the European Commission.

Greece has until Tuesday midnight to transfer the next 1.6-billion-euro payment to the IMF before the current aid package expires. Greek Finance Minister Yanis Varoufakis has stated that the country cannot make the payment.