'No' vote to Europe as Greeks choose to reject bail-out deal

The Greek referendum result has to be accepted, and the ball is now in Athens' court for the next steps, Germany's foreign minister has said. "We have now to accept such a result, it is the result of a referendum which the Greek people took part. What conclusions can be made is first and foremost a decision for Greece, therefore the ball is now in Athens' court," Frank-Walter Steinmeier said in Vienna. However, the president of Germany's Federation of German Wholesale, Foreign Trade and Services (BGA) Anton Börner predicts the end of Greece's membership of the eurozone after the "no" vote winning in the Greek referendum, newspaper Die Welt reported. "It will be unavoidable," he said when asked whether a Grexit could be averted.

The finance minister said a no vote was was a vote in favour of democracy and social justice that allowed Athens to call on its partners to find a fair deal. "As of tommorrow, with this brave 'No' the Greek people handed us.... we will extend a helping hand towards our lenders. We will call on each one of them to find common ground," Varoufakis told reporters. "As of tomorrow, Europe, whose heart is beating in Greece tonight, is starting to heal its wounds, our wounds. Today's No is a big Yes to democratic Europe." more