Greek premier will send message to EU summit

(ATHENS) - Greek President Carolos Papoulias will carry a letter from Premier Antonis Samaras underlining the need to support the country to a critical EU summit in Brussels this week, local media reported on Tuesday.

In the letter, Samaras will point out that the June 17 elections in Greece have proved the country has chosen a pro-Europe path, the reports said.

He will also raise the issue of the possible replacement of certain terms that are part of the EU-IMF bailout packages that are keeping the heavily indebted country's economy afloat.

Samaras, who is currently recovering from a major eye operation, spoke on the phone Tuesday with EU leaders including German Chancellor Angela Merkel and EU president Herman Van Rompuy in view of the summit.

The 83-year-old Papoulias, who will lead a Greek delegation to Brussels, on Tuesday expressed the hope that the summit would help Greece as the country prepares to outline its plans to review the EU-IMF bailout.

"We hope it will be a positive summit, not only for Greece but also for the rest of the European south and the entire world," he said.

The delegation will also include current Finance Minister George Zanias and Foreign Minister Dimitris Avramopoulos.

Incoming finance minister Yannis Stournaras, a former banker who was named to the post on Tuesday after bank chief Vassilis Rapanos turned down the post for health reasons, will not attend as he has yet to be sworn in.

Greece's new coalition government hopes to renegotiate the terms of the loan agreements, which have imposed harsh austerity measures that have caused outrage as the country struggles in its fifth year of recession.