Băsescu: "Greek banks in Romania have a correct behavior"

Greek banks in Romania have an absolutely correct behavior, president Traian Băsescu said yesterday, after meeting Greek president Karolos Papoulias, at the Cotroceni Palace.

Traian Băsescu said: "All the seven Greek banks operating on the Romanian market have a normal behavior, are performing well and in an honest manner and we thank them, given the fact that we can imagine a situation where Greek banks look first and foremost at their own country, but they still have an absolutely fair behavior on the Romanian market".

President Traian Băsescu said that this is not a political statement, but rather that this is the answer he received from the Governor of the National Bank of Romania.

The head of state said that between 2009 and 2010, when the effects of the crisis were felt the strongest, the Greek banks did not take any step back, as they were well capitalized and continued to finance the economic processes in the country.

Greek subsidiaries of Romania own about 27% of the banking sector and that they have contributed to Romania"s exit from the recession, the president said.

Traian Băsescu added that the Greek state is the fifth largest investor in Romania, being one of the largest investors in the banking system, food industry and telecommunications.

He said that he had a talk with Karolos Papoulias, concerning the economic and political situation of the two countries.

"I have thanked the president for the support that Greece provided Romania for its process to join the EU and NATO and for the support that it is giving us to help us become a Schengen member state", according to Traian Băsescu.

Greek president Karolos Papoulias, began his official visit in Romania yesterday.