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Athens has plan B if EU refuses to finance Greece

Energy Minister Panagiotis Lafazanis refused to disclose any details of the plan and expressed hope that that the solution will be found

© EPA/SIMELA PANTZARTZI

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International financial assistance program to Greece expires at midnight

MOSCOW, June 30. /TASS/. Athens has "plan B" in case the EU does not resume its financial aid to Greece, Energy Minister Panagiotis Lafazanis said in an interview with the Rossiya 24 TV channel.

"I think that at the referendum Greeks will say their "no" to the blackmail Europe is now applying to us. After that the banks will re-open and everything will be fine. If our people say their definite "no" to this blackmail, but Europe does not change its attitude and does not resume financing, we have "plan B". The lack of money from the EU is not the end. There are other sources as well," Lafazanis says.

He refused to disclose any details of the plan. He said he hopes that that the solution will be found.

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"But if this does not happen, I can assure you that we will have an opportunity to get out of this situation as the winners. We have not officially asked anyone for assistance, but any helping hand for us now would not be unwanted, and primarily from Russia. This would be very helpful for us," The Greek minister said.

On June 27, Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras proposed to hold a referendum in Greece asking the people whether the government should accept the terms of international lenders.

The Greek parliament approved the initiative. The referendum is scheduled for July 5.

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