ECB's Coeure tells Kathimerini markets will be harsher than creditors

Relations with investors and the markets will be no easier for Athens than those with the country's creditors, European Central Bank Governing Council member Benoit Coeure warns in an interview with Kathimerini ahead of Greece's return to the markets.

The French banker makes it clear that the continuation of reforms and the avoidance of any backtracking are necessary conditions for Greece to regain the confidence of investors.

In the first public statement by an ECB executive after the end of Greece's bailout program, Coeure - who in recent years has closely followed and dealt with the Greek case - congratulates the Greek government on the progress recorded, but avoids saying that the mission has been accomplished yet.

He does acknowledge that the Greek people have suffered over the eight years of the austerity program and that mistakes have been made,...