Greek EU presidency a challenge given ongoing crisis: Analysts

ATHENS: Crisis-hit Greece in January takes over the six-month rotating EU presidency with a crucial European Parliament ballot looming, and the bloc divided over delicate efforts to create a banking union.

Merkel Blames SPD’s Schroeder for Letting Greece Into the Euro

German Chancellor Angela Merkel sought to pin the blame for the euro-region’s debt turmoil on her Social Democratic predecessor, Gerhard Schroeder, saying he should never have let Greece into the single currency area.

Greece's lenders warn of 'very large' risks to bailout

ATHENS: Political resistance and potential court challenges are among "very large" risks to reforms required for Greece's bailout programme, the country's European lenders said on Monday.

Greece 'back on its feet', sacrifices 'not in vain': Samaras

BRUSSELS: Prime Minister Antonis Samaras warmly welcomed the EU's release Thursday of long-awaited rescue funds for Athens, saying "Greece is back on its feet.

Greece says Qatar eyeing investment in defense sector

ATHENS (Reuters) - Qatar is interested in Greek defense companies being privatized and could submit investment plans when Prime Minister Antonis Samaras visits the Gulf state early next year, Greece's defense minister said on Monday.

Greece to clear 5 bn euro debt hurdle: Debt agency

ATHENS: Greece on Friday was in the process of repaying a five-billion-euro treasury bill with money raised from another debt issue this week, thus avoiding a payment default, a debt management agency source said.

Greek PM Antonis Samaras takes debt crisis talks to Paris

PARIS: The Greek prime minister headed to Paris Saturday on the second leg of a trip to try and win more time for his country to meet a deadline to slash billions of euros (dollars) from its budget.

Greece to discuss, not ask for, spreading out cuts

ATHENS: Greek Prime Minister Antonis Samaras intends to discuss but make no official request to spread out spending cuts when he meets his German and French counterparts, a newspaper reported Thursday.