Reuters: Greece accused the EU (European Union) and IMF (International Monetary Fund) of interfering in its domestic affairs on Saturday after the international lenders said Athens must speed up reforms and sell more public assets.
On Friday, EU and IMF inspectors visiting Greece to monitor the implementation of a bailout plan that saved Greece from bankruptcy, approved more aid for the country but adopted a more critical tone than on previous visits.In rare harsh words, the Greek government said the inspectors’ approach was unacceptable, after coming under fire from local media for not reacting to criticism of the pace of reforms and the call for privatizations.
Prime Minister George Papandreou talked with both IMF head Dominique Strauss-Kahn and EU Monetary Affairs Commissioner Olli Rehn on Saturday to complain, his office said.
In his telephone conversation with Strauss-Kahn, Papandreou “conveyed the message of the Greek government about the unacceptable behavior of the representatives of the European Commission, ECB and IMF during yesterday’s news conference,” Papandreou’s office said in a statement.
