国际英语新闻：Greek government vows not to take "even half a step back" from austerity plan

ATHENS, March 4 (Xinhua) -- The Greek government ruled out on Thursday any possibility of backing off from an austerity plan it announced on Wednesday to fight the deficit, despite a string of protests against the measures.

No one should doubt that the measures announced by the government would bring results, Greek government spokesman George Petalotis stressed on Thursday, as Greek unions prepared to launch general strikes and work stoppages beginning the next day, to protest against the cuts in annual wages and benefits, along with sharp increases in indirect taxation.

Asked to comment on planned strikes and reactions in society, Petalotis said that the concern was "understandable," but underlined that "it is inconceivable and inexcusable for us to take even half a step back. We can only go forward."

"We have fully undertaken our responsibility and our duty toward Greek citizens to lead the country to security and stability," Petalotis said, adding that it was "necessary for us to all take this step together so that the economy of the Greek state can survive."

Commenting on the response to the 10-year bond issue launched by Greece on Thursday, Petalotis said the government was satisfied because there was great demand, which he said was significant. "It is a sample," he told reporters.

Regarding Prime Minister George Papandreou's statement that the government "now expected the European support that was the other side of the agreement," Petalotis repeated that Greece sought only political support from its European partners, including Germany, so that it could borrow on the same terms as other EU countries.

He also stressed, in reference to a meeting on Friday between Papandreou and German Chancellor Angela Merkel, that Greece "has not sought economic aid from any European tax-payer" and would overcome the crisis on its own steam.

At the same time, Petalotis made it clear that Greece always retained the option of resorting to the International Monetary Fund if "other solutions do not work out," because it needed some loans in order to finance its debt and reduce its deficit.

"As long as we are doing better, so there will be a correction in the income of Greek citizens, who unfortunately are paying for the criminal short-sightedness of previous New Democracy governments," the spokesman asserted.