BERLIN, Aug. 17 (UPI) -- The Germany legislature's pending approval of the Greek bailout may come with strings attached, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said.
She told a radio interviewer Sunday that International Monetary Fund (IMF) chief Christine Lagarde would insure the Fund's participation if Greece, about to receive its third bailout in five years, lived up to debt relief, austerity and pension reform promises. The assurance could lessen anxieties within the legislature regarding Greece's potential for actually delivering on its promises in exchange for an 86 billion Euro ($95.6 billion) loan, required by Aug. 20 to help pay a prior loan. The IMF has a reputation for thoroughness and rigor in financial matters.