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February 9, 2012 2:35 PM EST
Euro zone finance ministers and officials were meeting on Thursday to discuss a second financial bailout package for Greece, after leaders in Athens clinched a long-stalled deal on reforms and austerity measures.
Following are comments by ministers and officials ahead of the talks:
EU ECONOMIC AND MONETARY AFFAIRS COMMISSIONER OLLI REHN
"I am sure that this staff level agreement will tonight be thoroughly scrutinised by the finance ministers of the euro area member states.
"I think we will have a very thorough discussion and it's now up to the Greek government and parliament to convince its European partners through a strong commitment and concrete actions in terms of ensuring fiscal consolidation and structural reforms."
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"...It's up to the Greek government to provide concrete actions through legislation and other actions to convince its European partners that a second programme can be made to work."
AUSTRIAN FINANCE MINISTER MARIA FEKTER
ON AGREEMENT WITH GREECE:
"The Greeks will vote in a few weeks and by then we want to guarantee that even after the election, no matter what constellation they will have, that the deal sticks."
ON SECOND GREEK PACKAGE:
"The Greeks still have to do their homework from the previous package before we agree on a new package, the new package has austerity measures on the one hand and privatisation on the other hand, so the economy can grow a bit better, that they can build up their exports, that the daily running of the government is better."
"On the individual measures, we do expect monthly progress so that Greece can get back on its feet all by itself."
GERMAN FINANCE MINISTER WOLFGANG SCHAEUBLE ON RESULTS SO FAR:
"We have come very far, but we are still not far enough. But I think it's good that we have a intermediate results and that we tell Greece and Greece's negotiating partners clearly what the conditions for a second bailout are and that's what we will do tonight.
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