No new aid for Greece beyond current bailout: Slovakia

(BRATISLAVA) - Slovakia opposes further aid to embattled eurozone member Greece, beyond a 130-billion-euro ($173 billion) loan package which Athens is trying to unlock, Finance Minister Ivan Miklos said Thursday.

"We don't want the volume of public resources (in the rescue package) to be increased above the already agreed 130 billion euros, we want any other increases to by funded through the participation of the private sector," Miklos told reporters in Bratislava, ahead of a crunch meeting among eurozone finance minister later Thursday in Brussels.

"We also want Greece to take measures that will make its public debt sustainable -- at 120 percent of GDP or slightly higher," he said, adding that it would require not only restrictive measures but also structural reforms to boost economic growth.

Greece has been locked in talks with officials from the European Union, International Monetary Fund and European Central Bank -- also dubbed the "Troika" -- on fresh austerity measures needed to trigger the release of the loan package.

Greece needs the loan from the European Union and International Monetary Fund to meet debt payments due in March.

"Promises and declarations are not enough, we expect specific measures to be approved by the Greek parliament," Miklos said.

"If Greece won't be willing to accept the Troika proposals, including salary cuts in the private sector, there won't be any other alternative but default," he added.

Slovakia, a former communist economy which joined the EU in 2004 and the eurozone in 2009, has repeatedly expressed its discontent about bailouts in the 17-nation currency bloc

It was the only member state that refused to participate in the first rescue package for Greece in 2010.