ECB’s Trichet says Greece bankruptcy not in discussion

Italy is not in the same situation as Greece and has shown a degree of resistance in the present difficult period, ECB president Jean-Claude Trichet said in an interview on Friday with Il Sole 24 Ore.

"In particular it (Italy) has been able to contain its yearly public deficit," Trichet said.

He said the ECB encouraged Italy to rigorously apply its recovery programme.

Trichet reiterated that the question of Greece going bankrupt was not in discussion "in light of the decisions taken by the Greek government to reduce its public deficit and the declarations of heads of state and government of the Eurozone."

Trichet said a "clear bipartisan agreement is needed in countries wishing to enter the Eurozone".

"It is not possible to enter or leave the Eurozone as if getting on or off a bus," Trichet said.