Governments cannot assume or expect that the ECB will always facilitate their funding independently of the achievement of their fiscal and other policy objectives.

I am not a politician but I have dedicated the biggest part of my professional life to economic policy both in Greece and Europe.

The participation of our country in the eurozone is a guarantee for the country's monetary stability. It is a driver of financial prosperity.

I thank all of those deputies who supported the government and gave it a vote of confidence. I believe each of those votes represents a responsible decision to avoid placing our country's membership of the eurozone in danger.

I am convinced that the public, large majority of the Greek people, realize that policies pursued in the past and the market practices have to be changed, in order to improve the prospects of the Greek economy. So there is, I think, strong public support despite the increases in social tensions.

The financial crisis in our country is not a passing storm. Given the size of the problems, our national effort will not be completed in 2012. It will take many years and will require the efforts and insistence of several governments.

I think it's often discussed that leaving the Euro is an option for Greece. I think this is really not an option.