PM: Greece can survive crisis

Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou said his debt-ridden country has "great potential" and can emerge from its deep economic and financial crisis. With a disastrous debt default potentially just weeks away, Mr Papandreou told a conference of the Federation of German Industries: "We are borrowing to repay." Mr Papandreou will meet Germany Chancellor Angela Merkel, later on Tuesday. Greece's international creditors are pressing Athens to implement fully austerity measures. Without the next batch of loans, Greece would default in mid-October. The premier outlined Greece's efforts to enforce reforms agreed in exchange for the loans. He said: "So many people in Greece ask me, is all the pain worthwhile, can we make it? ... My answer is, yes, we can." Mr Papandreou added: "I can guarantee that Greece will live up to all its commitments." He promised that Greeks will "fight our way back to growth and prosperity" and warned against heaping "only punishment and scorn" on his compatriots.