ATHENS, Greece, Sept. 7 (UPI) -- Greek Prime Minister Antonis Samaras says he expects the country's economy to work its way out of the current recession some time next year.
Samaras told an audience at a trade show Friday the ongoing contraction of the Greek economy was slowing and would be "smaller than forecast" this year, and the national budget would show a surplus if interest payments on loans were not added into the numbers.
The BBC said Samaras called on Greece's creditors to take steps to lighten the national debt load in response to the significant reductions made in national spending.
Despite Samaras' optimism, the rest of Greece is pressured by the economy and the austerity program that has been running for about six years. The BBC said another round of protests took place Saturday in support of government workers whose jobs were on the chopping block.
