Greece to continue painful measures for recovery: FM

The European anti-crisis way is the only solution for recovery, visiting Greek Foreign Minister Dimitris Avramopoulos said here on Thursday.

Greece is determined to continue its own implementation of the structural reforms and the fiscal adjustment, said the minister at a joint press conference with his Romanian counterpart Titus Corlatean, adding that the measures taken by Athens amid the economic and financial crisis are painful for the people, who are forced to make big sacrifices.

"This is the way of solidarity. It is the European way, the only way for recovery and growth for all Europe's peoples," stressed Avramopoulos.

International Monetary Fund (IMF) mission chief Poul Thomsen arrives at the Greek Finance Ministry in central Athens, Greece, April 4, 2013. The Greek government's negotiations with the lenders' troika (EU, ECB, IMF) concern every aspect of the country's economy, aiming at the disbursement of the March bailout installment of 2.8 billion euros. (Xinhua/Marios Lolos)

During their meeting, the two ministers discussed Greece's priorities during its EU presidency in the first half of next year.

They also discussed the latest developments in Cyprus, the efforts to confront the crisis at the European level, as well as the EU multiannual financial framework for 2014-2020. The agenda also included regional developments in Southeast Europe and the Middle East, as well as the two countries' cooperation within regional organizations.

Avramopoulos arrived in Bucharest on Thursday for a one-day official visit. He will also hold talks with Romanian Prime Minister Victor Ponta. Immediately afterwards, the Greek official will depart for Croatia, to continue his working visit.