Charles Dallara and Jean Lemierre, Co-Chairs of the Steering Committee of the Private Creditor-Investor Committee for Greece, met today in Athens with Prime Minister Lucas Papademos and Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Evangelos Venizelos to discuss the voluntary PSI for Greece, against the background of the October 26/27 Agreement with the Euro Area Leaders. A range of issues were discussed and some key areas remain unresolved. Discussions will continue in Athens tomorrow, but time for reaching an agreement is running short.

It is essential in order to finalize the voluntary PSI agreement that support be given by all official parties in the days ahead. As Chancellor Merkel and President Sarkozy stressed in their Berlin press conference earlier this week, it is important that Greece reach agreement with the private sector on a voluntary debt exchange as soon as possible.