Greece 'should not be eurozone debt crisis scapegoat'

Greece should not be the "scapegoat" for the debt crisis in the eurozone, the country's Finance Minister, Evangelos Venizelos, has said.

He added that European and international institutions were using Greece as an "easy excuse" to "hide their own lack of competence to manage the crisis".

Mr Venizelos is due to discuss Greece's next release of bailout funds later.

Greece needs this money by next month to avoid defaulting on its debt.

Mr Venizelos will be speaking to European Union (EU) and International Monetary Fund (IMF) officials.
'Humiliated'

In his statement, Mr Venizelos also said that Europe and the International Monetary Fund had failed to "give a definitive and complete answer to the attacks against the euro".

Mr Venizelos added that Greece has been "blackmailed and humiliated".

He said that to stop this situation, the country had to move ahead with its deficit reduction work so it could meet its financial targets.
Mr Venizelos said: "If we want to stabilise the situation, if we want to avert default, if we want to remain in the core of the eurozone, if we want the country to stop being blackmailed and humiliated - because no citizen should have to put up with humiliation of their country - we have to make three large strategic decisions as part of our national strategy."

The three strategic decisions he highlighted were:

Greece achieving its 2011 and 2012 fiscal targets
Achieve annual budget surpluses "as soon as possible"
Carry out structural changes to allow Greece to become more competitive and productive

The EU and IMF agreed 110bn euros ($151bn; £96bn) of bailout funds for Greece in May last year.

A further 109bn euros was provisionally agreed in July this year, but this still needs ratifying by a number of parliaments in eurozone member states.

On Sunday, the Greek government held cabinet crisis talks over what new austerity measures to put in place to help secure its next EU-IMF loan instalment.

It had been due to get the go-ahead to receive 8bn euros this month, but eurozone leaders delayed the decision until October following concerns that Greece was not doing enough to reduce its spending.

Mr Venizelos, also urged groups in Greece opposed to the government's spending cuts to stop their criticisms, saying they created a "negative stereotype" which undermined the country's credibility.

He said: This cannot go on. Those of us with a public standing, whether they are politicians, journalists, analysts, entrepreneurs, academicians, must have in mind that what they say can be used as arguments against the country."

Mr Venizelos went on to single out Greek opposition leader Antonis Samaras, saying Mr Samaras had "no idea" what the country faced.

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