​Greece not negotiating financial aid from Russia 'right now' - PM

Published time: February 02, 2015 15:57

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Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras (Reuters/Marko Djurica)

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Austerity, Bailout, Crisis, EU, Economy, Finance, Greece

Athens is not discussing the possibility of a loan from Russia, said Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras, adding that Athens and Cyprus can become a 'bridge of peace and cooperation between Europe and Russia.'
"We are in substantial negotiations with our partners in Europe and those who have lent us. We have obligations towards them," Tsipras said Monday in Cyprus during his first foreign visit as a prime minister. "Right now, there are no other thoughts on the table," he added, answering the question about possible financial aid from Russia.
READ MORE: Russia might bailout Greece – finance minister
Tsipras also rejected the idea of his country leaving the eurozone, saying anyone who thought small countries within the EU like Greece and Cyprus were not essential, were mistaken.
"The EU and eurozone would be both dismembered along their Southeastern flank without Greece and Cyprus," Tsipras said.
The Greek prime minister also called for the principle of the ‘troika’ to be replaced, as the mechanism of overseeing the finances by the European Commission, European Central Bank and IMF inspectors drags struggling economies deeper into crisis.
"I believe that this would be a mature and necessary development for Europe," Tsipras said.