Tsipras claims victory after Greek bailout deal

ANKARA

Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras has claimed victory after Monday’s announcement of a Greek bailout deal.

"We fought a difficult battle in the last six months," Tsipras told the media in Brussels.

"We struggled to gain the best from an agreement that will offer the country the opportunity to stand on its feet," Tsipras insisted. "We overcame the designs of the more extreme conservative circles in the European Union."

Describing the deal as “difficult” Tsipras added that “we will ensure that it is administered with social justice”.

"And we succeeded in obtaining a restructuring of the debt, in financing growth."

Tsipras pointed out that the Greek government had managed to prevent the transfer of public assets abroad.

There had been a demand from Germany that the Greek privatization fund be located in Luxembourg – but the final agreement places it in Athens.

"We avoided financial suffocation, and the collapse of the banking system," Tsipras added.

“We will keep striving for a return to growth to win back our national sovereignty,” he also said. "We sent a message of dignity to Europe and the whole world.”