MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Sarkozy promised support for Greece “or else there will be no more Euro”

Preparing the ground for aid: Greece is the main importer of French beef

France will support Greece following its efforts to reduce its deficit and has no intention of seeing the country fall by the wayside because the reason for creating the Euro is at stake, French President Nicolas Sarkozy said.

“If we created the Euro, we cannot let a country fall that is in the Euro zone. Otherwise, there was no point in creating the Euro,” Sarkozy said during a meeting with farmers
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”We (must) support Greece because they are making an effort, or else there will be no more Euro currency“ he added.

Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou visited Paris on Sunday to meet Sarkozy as part of a tour of capitals seeking backing for his debt-riddled nation. He received political support, but no promise of financial aid, at talks in Berlin with Chancellor Angela Merkel on Friday.

French officials have said there is no need for aid at present, but Sarkozy made clear that Paris would be ready to help if Athens faced a budget meltdown.

At a joint press conference in Paris with PM Papandreou, President Sarkozy said: ”France is by the side of Greece in the most resolute fashion. The Euro is our currency. It implies solidarity. There can be no doubt on the expression of this solidarity.“
However, he did not outline any specific measures to help Greece, but said his Finance minister was working on a plan.

Talking with French farmers Sarkozy said “the Euro has no sense if there is no solidarity between ourselves” and recalled that Greece was the number one importer of French beef.

”I will fight with the same ferocious energy to defend the (European) common agriculture policy“ Sarkozy added, referring to EU aid for its farm sector.

Papandreou expressed appreciation for French support, but repeated that help from the International Monetary Fund might still be needed. He wants countries to calm markets and reduce Greece's high borrowing costs.

Mr Papandreou said Greece ”was not asking for money; we are asking to be able to borrow with similar, if not the same terms, as the other Euro zone countries”.
The Greek PM is schedule to meet with President Obama next Wednesday at the White House.