The provision of loans to countries with economic difficulties should be maintained and developed in Europe, Greek government spokesman George Petalotis said in an interview with RIA Novosti on Friday.
The European Union and the International Monetary Fund offered Greece 30 billion euros ($41 billion) at a preferential rate earlier in April to help the Balkan nation overcome its huge debt crisis.
"The support mechanism was created as a result of Greece's current problems, but it exists and will exist for any other country in need of help in the future. Therefore, this mechanism will remain in place and should be developed on," Petalotis said.
The country has approved a large-scale austerity plan to reduce its budget deficit, cutting civil servants' salaries, freezing pensions and increasing taxes. The measures sparked mass protests across the country.
Petalotis said Greece also intended to undertake reforms to combat the budget meltdown.
"Greece is not relying on ephemeral loans to cover its current needs. The government and Prime Minister George Papandreou are undertaking many structural reforms, such as a tax reform, insurance reform and a large-scale cleanup in state spending," Petalotis said.
He also expressed confidence that Greece's foreign debt would be reduced and the burden on the Greek people would be removed.
The Greek authorities had earlier said they needed moral, not economic support from Europe, claiming the Balkan state would tackle the debt crisis by itself.
ATHENS, April 16 (RIA Novosti)
