Clinton in Greece for Debt Talks

Posted July 17th, 2011 at 6:40 am (UTC-5)
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U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is in Greece for two days of talks with government officials, which are expected to focus on the Greek economic crisis.

Clinton is to meet Sunday with Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou. A senior official traveling with Clinton says that during her meetings in Athens, she will press both in public and in private for support for Mr. Papandreou's austerity program, aimed at securing additional European and international rescue loans.

Her meetings with top Greek officials come as Greece prepares for an emergency summit on Thursday in Brussels, where the leaders of the 17 Eurozone countries will attempt to forge a deal on a second bailout for the nation.

Before ending her tour of Turkey Saturday, Clinton offered her support to Turkish calls for a resolution of the long-running dispute between Ankara and Athens over Cyprus.

Turkey does not recognize the Greek Cypriot government, and has sided with the Turkish Cypriot north in the 36-year standoff that has divided the Mediterranean island-nation. Ongoing reconciliation talks begun in 2008 between the Turkish north and the Greek south have so far failed to produce a settlement.

The secretary is scheduled to leave for India Monday.