ATHENS—Leaders from Greece and other eurozone countries are looking to see if there is a way to resolve the struggling country's ongoing debt crisis, following a resounding rejection by Greeks of the latest bailout conditions.
Here is a timeline of the situation since the referendum results came in, as Greece and its 18 other eurozone partners seek a solution to a situation once thought of as unimaginable.
Sunday, July 5
- Greeks reject the terms of a bailout proposition with 61.31% voting "No," providing solid domestic support for Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras.
- Tsipras tells Greeks the vote "is not an mandate of rupture with Europe, but a mandate that bolsters our negotiating strength to achieve a viable deal."
The Greek premier tells creditors: "This time, the debt will be on the negotiating table."
- German Economy Minister Sigmar Gabriel says Tsipras has "torn down the bridges" between Greece and Europe, while Slovakia's Finance Minister Peter Kazimir estimates that the prospect of a country leaving the eurozone now "seems like a realistic scenario."
- German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Francois Hollande call an emergency eurozone summit for Tuesday and emphasize that the Greeks' decision must "be respected."
Monday, July 6:
- Yanis Varoufakis says he is resigning as Greek finance minister to pave the way for talks with eurozone creditors. "I was made aware of a certain preference by some Eurogroup participants, and assorted 'partners,' for my... 'absence' from its meetings," he says in a blog, suggesting that Tsipras asked him to step down.
- Greek deputy foreign minister Euclid Tsakalotos, who has led talks with EU-IMF creditors, is named as the new finance minister.
- A spokesman for Merkel said "there is no basis to enter into negotiations on a new aid program," and Eurogroup chief Jeroen Dijsselbloem said the referendum results bring Europe "no closer to a solution."
- Greece's banks are to remain closed through Wednesday, the Greek state news agency says.
- Greece's main political parties jointly call for an agreement with EU-IMF creditors, the president's office says.
- The European Central Bank holds a telephone conference call of governors. The ECB, which does not confirm the meeting, holds the key to a short-term easing of market tension via its ability to provide cash to depleted Greek banks.
- International Monetary Fund chief Christine Lagarde says the global lender stood "ready to assist Greece if requested to do so."
- Gabriel says a meeting of eurozone finance ministers (Eurogroup) on Tuesday will likely consider the need for humanitarian aid for Greece.
- Merkel and Hollande meet in Paris to agree a joint position by the eurozone's two biggest economies.
- Russian President Vladimir Putin tells Tsipras he supports Greeks in overcoming their "difficulties" and hopes Greece will "reach the necessary compromise with creditors as soon as possible."
Copyright Agence France-Presse, 2015.
