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RF hails euro zone problem solved – Lavrov

“We uphold the EU package. We hope that it will be implemented,” Lavrov said on Monday

MOSCOW, November 7 (Itar-Tass) — Russia lauds the fact that the euro zone’s problem, which emerged due to the situation in Greece, was resolved, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said.

“We uphold the EU package. We hope that it will be implemented,” Lavrov said on Monday.

“We are satisfied with the fact that the problem, which had emerged due to the events in Greece, was resolved,” the Russian minister added.

Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou agreed to step down to allow the creation of a national unity government that will secure international financing and avert a collapse of the country’s economy.

Papandreou met with Antonis Samaras, leader of the main opposition party, and agreed to form a government intended to lead Greece “to elections immediately after the implementation of European Council decisions on October 26,” according to an e-mailed statement yesterday from the office of President Karolos Papoulias in Athens. Papandreou already stated he won’t lead the new government, the statement said.

“A lot is already being asked of the yet-to-be-formed coalition and markets could be wary of any splits that appear, especially over the tougher decisions yet to be taken,” Thomas Costerg, an economist at Standard Chartered Bank, said in comments made before yesterday’s announcement. “Greece is still not out of the woods.”

Finance Minister Evangelos Venizelos said he wanted a unity government agreed on before euro-area finance ministers meet in Brussels on Monday. Lucas Papademos, former European Central Bank vice president, will head a Greek national unity government.

The premier’s capitulation caps a tumultuous 10 days that started with him securing a second bailout from the European Union, then roiling markets by unilaterally deciding to put the terms of that rescue to the Greek people in a vote, a plan he then dropped. Bowing to pressure from his party and the opposition, Papandreou pledged to stand aside for a government with wider support.