(AP Photo/Michael Sohn, File)
BERLIN| Fri Nov 30, 2012 6:01pm EST
(Reuters) -
German Chancellor Angela Merkel said she understood her compatriots' doubts
about a bailout deal for Greece ,
but insisted in an interview that aid for Athens
was in the interests of Berlin
Her words
were published on Saturday a day after German lawmakers approved the latest
rescue package for Greece
"Of
course I feel many citizens' skepticism, and understand it as well partly, as Greece
"This
is about so much more than just our currency... I want Europe
to have a strong future," she added.
Merkel has
repeatedly said throughout the euro zone crisis that supporting Greece
Her
interview appeared designed to allay increasing concerns by some German
economists and lawmakers that Greece
Merkel told
the newspaper the crisis was hitting Greeks hard but reforms by the Athens
She
rejected accusations by the opposition Social Democrats that she was not
revealing the full extent of Greece's collapse - and the possibility
governments might eventually have to write off much of their Greek debt - in
the interests of winning a third term in elections next year.
"I
know my duty and I tell citizens how things are. I'll continue to do what is
best for Germany and Europe and try to keep the financial consequences as
minimal as possible and avoid any excessive risks," she told the
newspaper.
The outcome
of Friday's vote in the lower house was never in doubt but it was a test of
Merkel's authority over her center-right coalition. She did not manage to draw
an absolute majority from her own ranks after 23 of her lawmakers rebelled.
The rescue
package aims to cut Greece
(Reporting by
Alexandra Hudson; Editing by Andrew Heavens)
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