ATHENS, Aug. 22 (Xinhua) -- Greek Prime Minister Antonis Samaras reiterated Greece's commitment to reforms to tackle the debt crisis during talks with Eurogroup head Jean-Claude Juncker here on Wednesday, appealing to international creditors for more time to meet goals under bailout deals.
Any further support to Greece will depend on the report of European Union (EU)/International Monetary Fund (IMF) auditors due in Athens in September to assess the progress in the implementation of the terms of deals so far, Juncker replied in statements to the media.
The European official avoided to out rightly reject or back an extension of the current fiscal adjustment period or a third rescue package for Greece.
"We are determined to meet our obligations. We will meet the goals," Samaras told the press following the meeting with his Luxembourg counterpart.
"We will prove wrong those who bet on Greece's exit from the eurozone," stressed the Greek premier in the first of a series of significant talks with European leaders this week.
"I am on Greece's side ... Greeks are making a huge effort which is not acknowledged in all parts of the eurozone ... I am sure the Greek government is determined to take all steps necessary to secure the next disbursement of loans," Juncker said during the joint press briefing.
In a message of support to Greek efforts ahead of Samaras' meetings with German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Berlin on Friday and French President Francois Hollande in Paris on Saturday, he strongly dismissed the idea of a Greek euro exit, arguing it would damage Greece and endanger the eurozone.
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