Prime Minister George Papandreou, in an address to the nation on Thursday evening on the decisions taken at the Brussels EU summit, stressed that "we must all work together to create the productive Greece of the future" since, as he said, there are no magicians, while calming those concerned over the EC/ECB/IMF troika's permanent presence in the country.

Papandreou also underlined that the agreement achieved in Brussels will not create any problem for banks and pensions.

The prime minister appeared optimistic over the country's course in the future, basing his optimism on the summit's decision and stressing that this decision shows that "we can achieve the next target as well," which is the creation of an entirely different Greece from today's.

The prime minister, however, did not omit to point out that achieving the new target requires the participation of all in the effort, as was also the case with achieving the target of the specific decision being taken by the European Council.

Papandreou further said that Thursday's decision opens the prospects for the country and gives the Greeks the possibility of determing their future themselves. And he attributed the success to the Greek people's very great efforts and sacrifices. He said they were those that gave the government the weapons to succeed in the negotiating.

He reassured that the decision does not create any problem in the banking system or for pensions. He added that the contrary is the case.

The prime minister termed the agreement as being of great importance for the country since it provides the necessary time and distances insecurity. He added that, "having alleviated the burden for the Greek people, we want the next year to be the first that new burdens will not be added on to the citizens."

"The agreement that we have just achieved opens new prospects for our country. It gives us the possibility to determine our own future. The effort of the Greek people is producing results," he said.

Thursday's decision "gives us time, it distances us from insecurity. It gives us the opportunity to set and follow our own path. And I wish to reassure, in no way will this decision create a problem for the banking system or for pensions. On the contrary. It will create new possibilities from growth, liquidity in the real economy, up to support for social welfare and the restructuring in the banking system. It also gives us the courage to forge ahead, with better preconditions. We negotiated and succeeded in writing off a very considerable part of our debt. Tens of billions of euros left the backs of the Greek people. The banks, instead of the citizens, will pay this cost," the prime minister added.

"Since we won this battle, I cannot but be optimistic that we can achieve the next target as well: to create together a productive Greece of justice. We now have in our hands the possibility to build a better state and in a reasonable period of time from today to create a completely different Greece. Now, we have work to do and a responsibility to translate into action Thursday's decisions. We have work to do and a responsibility to turn towards mainly a creative Greece," Papandreou concluded.