Submitted by Fox First at Ten on October 24th
By The Associated Press
ATHENS, Greece (AP) - Greece's Finance Minister said the country has been granted a long-sought extension to meet the terms of its bailout program - but the claim was swiftly shot down as "speculation" by the European Central Bank and lead lender Germany.
Finance Minister Yannis Stournaras said the deal was struck as part of weeks-long negotiations with its international creditors over a €13.5 billion ($17.56 billion) package of new austerity measures for the next two years, required for continued emergency loan payments.
"What have we achieved today? We have achieved the extension," the minister told parliament. "If we had not been granted that extension, today we not only have needed to take measures worth €13.5 billion euros, but €18.5 billion ($24 billion)."
He added: "We have not gone bankrupt because we still have funds remaining from the previous installment."
One of the conditions of Greece's €240 billion bailout program is that it reform the economy so the country can eventually return to the bond markets to raise money.
Greece has asked for a two-year extension on its adjustment program, until the end of 2016, to ease the impact of further austerity measures and labor market reforms.
In Berlin, German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble bluntly dismissed Stournaras' statement as "speculation"
"I can't confirm this," he told reporters. "As far as the Federal Finance Ministry and the German government are concerned, there are no new developments."
Schaeuble said creditors were still awaiting a report on Greece's progress by the so-called troika of debt inspectors, from the European Union, the ECB and International Monetary Fund, before any decisions would be made.
ECB President Mario Draghi appeared to question the Greek statements.
"The review is not finished yet," he said. "I understand progress has been made but that some parts need to be defined, and I don't know anything more than that. I cannot comment on these rumors."
The IMF also weighed in.
"There has been progress in recent days, but some outstanding issues remain to be agreed upon," the IMF said in a statement.
"Discussions continue," the agency added.
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Elena Becatoros and Derek Gatopoulos contributed from Athens while Frank Jordans, Geir Moulson and Juergen Baetz contributed from Berlin.
Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
