A rift is not a solution, former prime minister Antonis Samaras said, following the failure of Greece and the Eurogroup to agree on the extension of the current fiscal programme.

Calling it an unpleasant development, the New Democracy leader called on the government to remain in the process of negotiations, which is, he said, “the only path to a positive outcome for our country.”

Negotiations must be carried out responsibly because of the seriousness of the situation; “we have come a long way, to blow it all up,” he said, “a rift is not the solution.”