Greek PM focuses on bailout renegotiation, reforms in policy speech

 ATHENS, July 6 (Xinhua)-- Greek Prime Minister Antonis Samaras outlined his government's policy plan on Friday evening, focusing on the renegotiation of bailout terms with international lenders and the acceleration¹ of structural² reforms.

"Renegotiation is not about changing targets, but lifting the obstacles to meeting the targets... We need adjustments to the program to tackle recession so that we achieve the goals," he said.

He made the remarks in the Greek parliament at the start of a three-day debate that will end on Sunday night with a vote of confidence in the three-party coalition³ government.

He stressed that any changes to the stability and growth program launched in 2010 in exchange of multi-billion euro bailout packages by European counterparts and International Monetary⁴ Fund will be made through dialogue with lenders and not unilaterally.

Shortly after a swearing-in ceremony for Samaras and a small group of ministers and deputies who were absent during last week's ceremony for members of the new 300-member strong assembly elected in the June 17 general polls, the conservative prime minister promised to say the truth to Greek people.

He started by acknowledging that the stability and growth "is partly derailed, with some targets missed."In order to achieve the ultimate target of averting⁵ a Greek disorderly default and exit from the eurozone, Samaras pledged that the new government will put emphasis on the expansion and acceleration of a bold privatization program and structural reforms to boost growth.

"For each 1 percent GDP we gain in economic recovery, the deficit⁶ will be reduced by 1 billion euros," he argued.

Samaras promised the sale and better exploitation of state assets in strategic sectors⁷, such as energy and transports from railways to regional ports and airports.

He argued for the abolition⁸ and merging⁹ of state agencies as an alternative measure to mass layoffs¹⁰ of civil servants that would worsen unemployment rates.

He pledged policies that will restore liquidity¹¹ and counter bureaucracy to attract investments. He called for changes in the political system, such as cutbacks on parties' funding and MPs' benefits, and an all-out war against tax evasion¹².

In regards to foreign policy, he stressed that Greece wants good neighborly relations and a role as a force of stability in eastern Mediterranean¹³ Sea, underlining that his government aims to declare as soon as possible the exclusive economic zone in the area for gas and oil exploitation.

In addition, he pledged to strengthen cross-border collaboration¹⁴ to tackle common challenges, such as illegal immigration.

Finally Samaras urged "some foreign officials to stop undermining Greek efforts to address the crisis with continuous statements about the prospect¹⁵ of a Greek return to drachma."

1 acceleration   

n.加速，加速度

参考例句：

• All spacemen must be able to bear acceleration.所有太空人都应能承受加速度。
• He has also called for an acceleration of political reforms.他同时呼吁加快政治改革的步伐。

2 structural   

adj.构造的，组织的，建筑（用）的

参考例句：

• The storm caused no structural damage.风暴没有造成建筑结构方面的破坏。
• The North American continent is made up of three great structural entities.北美大陆是由三个构造单元组成的。

3 coalition   

n.结合体，同盟，结合，联合

参考例句：

• The several parties formed a coalition.这几个政党组成了政治联盟。
• Coalition forces take great care to avoid civilian casualties.联盟军队竭尽全力避免造成平民伤亡。

4 monetary   

adj.货币的，钱的；通货的；金融的；财政的

参考例句：

• The monetary system of some countries used to be based on gold.过去有些国家的货币制度是金本位制的。
• Education in the wilderness is not a matter of monetary means.荒凉地区的教育不是钱财问题。

5 averting   

防止，避免( avert的现在分词 )； 转移

参考例句：

• The margin of time for averting crisis was melting away. 可以用来消弥这一危机的些许时光正在逝去。
• These results underscore the value of rescue medications in averting psychotic relapse. 这些结果显示了救护性治疗对避免精神病复发的价值。

6 deficit   

n.亏空，亏损；赤字，逆差

参考例句：

• The directors have reported a deficit of 2.5 million dollars.董事们报告赤字为250万美元。
• We have a great deficit this year.我们今年有很大亏损。

7 sectors   

n.部门( sector的名词复数 )；领域；防御地区；扇形

参考例句：

• Berlin was divided into four sectors after the war. 战后柏林分成了4 个区。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Industry and agriculture are the two important sectors of the national economy. 工业和农业是国民经济的两个重要部门。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

8 abolition   

n.废除，取消

参考例句：

• They declared for the abolition of slavery.他们声明赞成废除奴隶制度。
• The abolition of the monarchy was part of their price.废除君主制是他们的其中一部分条件。

9 merging   

合并（分类）

参考例句：

• Many companies continued to grow by merging with or buying competing firms. 许多公司通过合并或收买竞争对手的公司而不断扩大。 来自英汉非文学 - 政府文件
• To sequence by repeated splitting and merging. 用反复分开和合并的方法进行的排序。

10 layoffs   

临时解雇( layoff的名词复数 )； 停工，停止活动

参考例句：

• Textile companies announced 2000 fresh layoffs last week. 各纺织公司上周宣布再次裁员两千人。
• Stock prices broke when the firm suddenly announced layoffs. 当公司突然宣布裁员时，股票价格便大跌

11 liquidity   

n.流动性，偿债能力，流动资产

参考例句：

• The bank has progressively increased its liquidity.银行逐渐地增加其流动资产。
• The demand for and the supply of credit is closely linked to changes in liquidity.信用的供求和流动资金的变化有密切关系。

12 evasion   

n.逃避，偷漏(税)

参考例句：

• The movie star is in prison for tax evasion.那位影星因为逃税而坐牢。
• The act was passed as a safeguard against tax evasion.这项法案旨在防止逃税行为。

13 Mediterranean   

adj.地中海的；地中海沿岸的

参考例句：

• The houses are Mediterranean in character.这些房子都属地中海风格。
• Gibraltar is the key to the Mediterranean.直布罗陀是地中海的要冲。

14 collaboration   

n.合作，协作；勾结

参考例句：

• The two companies are working in close collaboration each other.这两家公司密切合作。
• He was shot for collaboration with the enemy.他因通敌而被枪毙了。

15 prospect   

n.前景，前途；景色，视野

参考例句：

• This state of things holds out a cheerful prospect.事态呈现出可喜的前景。
• The prospect became more evident.前景变得更加明朗了。