New Democracy party leader Antonis Samaras met at the party's head office in Syngrou avenue on Saturday with the heads of the troika delegation who are currently in Athens, Thomsen, Mors and Mazouch.

The meeting, that included Foreign Minister and ND vice president Stavros Dimas and the members of the party's economic staff, focused on developments in Greece and Europe and the Greek economy's open issues, mainly regarding guarantees for the disbursement of the 6th tranche and the course for the implementation of the decisions taken on October 26.

• Samaras reiterated to the troika representatives that he has taken five actions that constitute the full and institutional expression and commitment of the ND party that it shall implement the European agreement of October 26: First, that he has stated his position publicly in the Greek Parliament.
• Second, that he has sent a letter to the European People's Party analysing his positions in the wake of the latest developments and the assumption of the premiership by Lucas Papademos and reiterates his commitments. The letter also appeals to the leaders of the parties and therefore to German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Nicolas Sarkozy as well.
• Third, that he has committed himself on the October 26 agreement at the meeting with the new prime minister under the President of the Republic.
• Fourth, that the vote of confidence he gave to the Papademos government also constitutes a commitment.
• Fifth, the approval of the 2012 budget in principle also functions in the same direction.

He let it be clearly understood in this framework that these actions are adequate and he does not intend to place an additional signature.

However, asked while leaving whether additional written commitments will be requested from Samaras, Thomsen replied "no comment."

The first steps in negotiations between the Greek government and bankers for the PSI programme and the terms raised by bondholders were discussed during the meeting.

A New Democracy official said the troika also discussed the debt swap plan with Samaras on Saturday.

"We discussed the private sector involvement (PSI) with the troika. They told us they are watching the PSI negotiations very closely and they told us we all want this deal to succeed," the party official said.

"Regarding the discussion we had with the troika and specifically on the written reassurances, I repeated to them my position on the issue," Samaras told reporters after the talks.

Samaras, a Harvard-educated economist known for his fiery rhetoric, said New Democracy had proven its commitment to the terms of the bailout by backing the coalition led by technocrat Prime Minister Lucas Papademos and its new budget.

The 'troika' also met Papandreou on Saturday but he and his party made no immediate comment after the talks. The leader of LAOS was due to meet the EU and IMF officials on Sunday.