Greek PM: Greece stands by Cyprus' side

Greek Prime Minister Antonis Samaras on Monday said that Greece stands by Cyprus' side, sending a message of solidarity with the island following Saturday's Euro group decision to impose a levy on all bank deposits in return of a bailout package to avert a chaotic default. "Greece has stood and stands by Cyprus' side in the current challenge...Prosperity and growth will return both in Cyprus and in Greece... As long as we keep our faith, we will emerge stronger from the crisis," Samaras stressed in a written statement, noting that Greece already faces a similar challenge over the past three years. Cyprus sought financial aid from international lenders last year after its banks reported huge losses on their exposure to Greece, and fiscal slippage shut the island out of international capital markets. Athens has pledged that a Greek lender will purchase Cyprus bank branches in Greece in the framework of efforts to keep the euro zone member afloat with international aid, as it has happened in Greece's case since 2010. Samaras'statement came as the Cypriot parliament is expected to vote on Tuesday on the terms of the bailout deal, which include a one-off levy of up to 10 percent on all deposits kept in the Mediterranean Sea island's banking system.