国际英语新闻：Greek PM calls for national consensus on austerity measures, reforms

ATHENS, Dec. 10 (Xinhua) -- Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou on Friday repeated a plea for national consensus on austerity measures and structural reforms promoted by his socialist government this year to tackle a severe debt crisis.

"Our target is to face reality in a difficult environment," said Papandreou during a debate in parliament, calling on opposition parties to support efforts to overcome the crisis over a three-year period.

Greece faced the danger of default this spring due to a budget deficit that reached 15.4 percent of the GDP in 2009.

The euro-zone member country avoided the default by securing a multi-billion euro rescue package from the European Union (EU) and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in May over a three-year period, pledging painful austerity measures and reforms, which, however, were rejected by labor unions and opposition political parties.

Papandreou on Friday called for a series of meetings with leaders of opposition parties to discuss the latest developments in the Greek economy ahead of the European Union summit on Dec. 16 and the tabling of the 2011 Greek draft budget in the Greek parliament later this month.

It was announced Friday afternoon that Papandreou is to hold talks with main opposition leaders, including leader of the conservative "New Democracy" Party Antonis Samaras, Greek Communist Party General-Secretary Aleka Papariga and far-right "Popular Orthodox Rally" Party leader George Karatzaferis on Tuesday.