Papandreou focuses on Greek goals

Ahead of critical talks with his European Union partners in Brussels on Wednesday, Prime Minister George Papandreou reiterated that his two main goals were to provide guarantees for Greek citizens and to alleviate the country?s huge debt burden.

In a message made public on the microblogging service Twitter, Papandreou said that ?offering security to the Greek citizen?and lifting some of the burden of the debt that Greek citizens currently feel burdened by? constituted a national duty to which all sides must contribute. ?When I say all, I mean the banks too which should shoulder part of the burden,? the premier said.

Papandreou and Finance Minister Evangelos Venizelos both telephoned the remaining members of the Cabinet to brief them on the progress of the talks meanwhile sources told Skai that government officials would draw the line at Greece coming under the stewardship of foreign creditors.