by Maria Spiliopoulou
ATHENS, June 2 (Xinhua) -- Greek government urged on Friday for a clear solution on the Greek debt load issue at the forthcoming EuroGroup meeting on June 15, following the positive revised data the Greek statistics authority ELSTAT released on GDP growth.
The Greek economy grew by 0.4 percent in the first quarter of 2017 compared with the fourth quarter of 2016, ELSTAT announced on Friday, revising upwards a previous preliminary estimate given in May that showed a 0.1-percent decline.
"In comparison with the first quarter of 2016, (the Greek economy) increased by 0.4 percent against the decrease of 0.5 percent that was announced for the flash estimate of the first quarter," said a ELSTAT statement.
The statistics service attributed the revision of GDP data to the integration of figures not available during the first estimate, which showed a positive trend in many indexes, Greek national news agency AMNA reported.
Household consumption grew 17 percent in the first quarter (from a 0.7-percent decline in the same period last year), exports of goods and services rose 4.8 percent (after a 10.4-percent fall in the first quarter of 2016) and imports of goods and services rose 10.9 percent (down 10.1 percent in 2016).
"The figures verify that the long sought development is already here. The Greek economy has the momentum to overcome the crisis for good," read a press statement issued by Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras' office.
"The decisions that will be made on the clarification of mid-term measures for the debt will be crucial. Our partners and creditors have no other reason for procrastination. We expect them to meet their pledges with a clear solution," concluded the statement.
During the upcoming meeting of eurozone finance ministers, Athens is seeking a deal to conclude the second review of the third Greek bailout which has dragged on for more than a year, according to initial timetables. It is also seeking an agreement on debt relief to ensure the sustainability of the Greek debt burden after the end of the current program in 2018.
Due to diverging views on this issue between mainly Germany and the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the progress of the third bailout has been slow in recent months.
According to the Greek national news agency, which cites Greek government sources, Athens has received messages that the impasse may not be overcome in the June 15 EuroGroup meeting, therefore Greek officials are focusing on the June 22 EU summit for a solution on the debt issue.
Speaking to AMNA on Friday, government spokesman Dimitris Tzanakopoulos called on German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble to stop blaming the Greek side and start working towards a constructive discussion.
"From now on, I think it would be better for him to stop blaming the Greek side. It is already known who bears the responsibility for not having an agreement in the previous EuroGroup meeting and he himself should work in the direction of a constructive discussion so that a solution is found," he said.
Tzanakopoulos' statement came in response to a remark made by the German official on Thursday that the Greek government insisted on burdening the weak instead of keeping the promises to increase taxation of ship owners, according to AMNA.
