国际英语新闻：Greek PM rebuts "mischievous scenarios" on Greek economy

ATHENS, June 8 (Xinhua) -- Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou rebutted on Tuesday scenarios that Greece will finally default and exit the eurozone, during a visit to the largest international maritime exhibition in Athens.

"Shipping is a force of growth for Greece worldwide, as shown in this major event, Posidonia. The government supports the sector and is determined to take immediate measures to boost our tourism industry for the benefit of the national economy," said Papandreou during his visit at the event that runs to June 11.

"I would also like to refute malicious scenarios regarding the Greek economy and to stress that we will achieve our fiscal targets thanks to the hard work and the sacrifices of the Greek people," Papandreou concluded.

Over the past few hours reports in foreign media insist that despite the activation of the financial support mechanism by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the European Union, Greece is still at the brink of default. Analysts forecast the exit of the country from the eurozone this autumn. "Greece is safe. With our decisions we save and rebuild the country. Since certain media continue reports that cause agony, I would like to categorically state that we are on the right track to development again and we will honor our promises," Papandreou stressed during a cabinet meeting earlier on Tuesday afternoon.

Greece has sank into an acute debt crisis over the past seven months and received financial aid from other European partners and the IMF in return of bold structural reforms and austerity measures. Foreign experts expressed fears that Athens faces huge trouble in the implementation of the Stability and Growth Program that aims to solve the crisis over three years. "I follow all these rumors about an imminent exit of Greece from the eurozone closely. It is a joke. Nothing more," commented Greek Finance Minister George Papaconstantinou from Luxembourg, stressing that in the first five months of 2010, the budget deficit shrank by 40 percent compared to the budget deficit in 2009.

The current Greek budget deficit stands at 13.6 percent of GDP and the government has promised to cut it to less than 3 percent in three years.