Greece, EU deny rescue loan extension

Officials in Greece and the European Union on Thursday denied media reports that Athens is seeking an extension of an international rescue loan agreement beyond 2012. “There will be no extension of the (loan) agreement – we state this categorically, and of course there is no question of extending the loan repayment period,” government spokesman Giorgos Petalotis said.

In Brussels, European Commission spokesman Amadeu Altafaj Tardio added: “There is no discussion, there is no plan, no preparations for any eventual extension of the current loan arrangement with Greece.”