German finance minister keeps pressure on Greece ahead of Chancellor Merkel’s visit

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A demonstrator holding a Greek flag protests outside the Greek Parliament in Athens Oct. 8, 2012 during an union anti-austerity rally a day before the visit by German Chancellor Angela Merkel. The authorities are keen to prevent embarrassing riots. More than 7,000 police will be on security duty in the capital from early Tuesday, while public gatherings will be banned in much of the city center and on a 100-meter (yard) radius from the route her motorcade will follow. The ban will not affect the main protests, but will prevent demonstrators from reaching the German embassy, where a populist right wing party was planning a protest. (AP Photo/Lefteris Pitarakis)

BERLIN – Germany’s finance minister is keeping the pressure on Greece to implement reforms and spending cuts before a visit by Chancellor Angela Merkel.

Merkel travels to Athens on Tuesday. Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble rejected on ZDF television Sunday suggestions that the trip signals Greece will definitely get further bailout money from its creditors.

Greece’s debt inspectors are currently assessing whether Athens has made enough progress to secure the next €31 billion ($40 billion) tranche of its bailout. Schaeuble stressed that “Greece must fulfil its obligations, so that the next tranche can be paid out.”

He also underlined the need for Greece to regain competitiveness and said: “Those in Greece who tell people that Europe or even the German chancellor are to blame for their problems are lying to people in Greece.”

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