LONDON — Britain’s Treasury chief warned that the standoff between Greece and the eurozone over the country’s bailout is endangering the global economy, urging the new government in Athens to act responsibly.
George Osborne characterized his talks with Greece’s new Finance Minister Yanis Varoufakis on Monday as “constructive,” but cautioned that now was the time to “choose competence over chaos.” He urged the eurozone countries to come up with a better plan for jobs and growth in Greece.
“It’s clear that the standoff between Greece and the eurozone is fast becoming the biggest risk to the global economy, and it’s a rising threat to our economy at home,” Osborne said.
Greece’s radical left Syriza party won parliamentary elections last week, alarming investors and eurozone governments. Party leader and new Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras has said he wants to end years of budget austerity that eurozone countries and the International Monetary Fund had required in exchange for $270 billion in rescue loans. He also wants to renegotiate payment of the bailout debt.
Greece’s finance minister will meet with investors and fund managers in London on Monday as he continues his tour of European capitals to drum up support for his government’s demands.
Though Britain is not part of the euro, Varoufakis sought to build rapport with Osborne with face-to-face talks. Downing Street described Britain’s position is one of continuity — and that Greece should honour the terms of its bailout.
Tsipras struck a more conciliatory tone, meanwhile. He dismissed what he called scaremongering over his government’s position on bailout negotiations and said that while the Greek people expect him to carry out tough negotiations with eurozone creditors, that would happen “within a European framework.”
Tsipras said he was surprised many “powerful European forces” back his government’s call to focus policies on economic growth and not just debt reduction.
“Europe needs to take a breath, certainly through mutual understanding and common steps,” said Tsipras. “But there’s no need to further constrict those breaths that people and economies need in order to move toward growth.”
Speaking in Cyprus, Tsipras ruled out suggestions that his government may reach out to Russia for a loan, saying his government’s primary objective is to conclude a deal with Greece’s European partners and “all those who have loaned to our country and to whom our country has obligations.”
J.P. Morgan analyst David Mackie said the pressure will fall on the Greek government in the coming weeks, as it will run out of money. He said the Greek government’s tactic is to build support around the region outside Germany — long the biggest defender of austerity policies — before the hard task of negotiation really begins.
“We would highlight that nothing will be settled until everyone is at the negotiating table, including the Germans,” he said in a statement. “If anything, our sense of the German position is that it has been hardening rather than softening.”
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