Germany, France for private investment in Greece

[June 17, 2011]  BERLIN (AP) -- The leaders of Germany and France say private investors should share a part of the burden of the next round of financial help for Greece on a voluntary basis.

Ahead of a working lunch together Friday, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Nicolas Sarkozy emphasized that a solution needed to be found soon to help Greece in order to ensure the stability of the euro.

Both leaders said that a "voluntary" extension of maturities of Greek government bonds held by private investors should be part of that solution.

Merkel says "we want the participation of private creditors on a voluntary basis."

[Associated Press]

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