Athens was forced to hold emergency auctions of treasury bills to cover urgent financing needs and avoid a disorderly default this month. Without the release of the 44-billion euros (56 billion U.S. dollars) installment in coming weeks, the country could collapse and exit the euro by year end.
"Greece can no longer be used as an alibi for Europe's flaws and indecisiveness to counter the crisis," Papandreou commented, adding that Greece has been asking for comprehensive solutions to address the wider crisis over the past three years, but several partners would not hear and precious time was lost.
"Europe faces the dead-ends herself created through its own policies. Greece's debt is not sustainable this way. The disbursement of the next loan on its own will not resolve the issue. The realistic solution is a repayment freeze," Tsipras said regarding the new postponement.
"As long as Europe delays to reach decisions, the crisis will worsen, increasing the risk of a Greek economy financial meltdown and its impact on the entire eurozone," stressed Constantinos Michalos, head of the Athens Chamber of Commerce and Industry and himself an economist and businessman.
Stavroula Karagiorgou, a pensioner with two jobless children, expressed his disappointment at the international lenders, echoing the disgruntlement of Greek ordinary citizens.
"We have no longer delusions on Europe and lenders. We have been asked to suffer unbearable sacrifices since 2010 to face the crisis. We suffer from endless cuts on salaries, tax hikes and unemployment and they do not give us hope. This is a risky vortex for us and Europe. It can't go like this anymore," he told Xinhua.
Landmark building should respect the public's feeling
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