Merkel: We have very positive data for Greece

Chancellor Angela Merkel held a traditional summer news conference on Tuesday, just less than a month before Germany’s Sept. 24 national election.

According to Reuters, on Eurozone she said that “regarding the euro zone, we have very positive data. All member states of the euro zone are showing economic growth, including Greece.”

“I think that we’re in a much better position today than we were a year ago, when I was a lot more worried and I wish Greece every success. I know that it is very, very difficult for many people but I think that Greece will also benefit from more jobs and then gradually from more prosperity.”

She backs the European Monetary Fund

“I think the suggestion from (Finance Minister) Wolfgang Schaeuble to turn the European Stability Mechanism into a European Monetary Fund is a very good idea and it could make us even more stabile and allow us to show the world that we have all the mechanisms in our own portfolio of the euro zone to be able to react well to unexpected situations.”

ON RELATIONS WITH TURKEY

“I would like to have better ties with Turkey but we have to look at reality… This is a very complicated phase in our relations.”

“Our demand is clear that (all German citizens) who are detained there must be freed.”

Source: capital.gr