Greek finance minister vows to keep debt’s share of economy shrinking

Greek Finance Minister Kostis Hatzidakis told Reuters that the government will maintain fiscal prudence to safeguard its growth path and emergence from a debilitating debt crisis a decade ago, even amid higher wage demands by striking teachers and ferry workers.

Speaking on the sidelines of International Monetary Fund and World Bank annual meetings this week in Washington, Hatzidakis said any accommodation for wage increases must not put at risk the downward trajectory of the country's debt-to-GDP ratio.

"We learned the lessons of the previous decade. Greece was living beyond its means," Hatzidakis said. He added that it was important to maintain primary surpluses and a headline deficit, after debt service, "close to zero."

"We have the surveillance of the markets and investors. So we know that fiscal prudence is a precondition for us to convince everybody -...