HIGHLIGHTS-Greek PM says will tap IMF/EU aid if needed

ATHENS, April 16 (Reuters) - An EU/IMF aid mechanism will be activated depending on Greece's interests, Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou told parliament on Friday, adding that the involvement of the International Monetary Fund did not mean that the country was bankrupt. Here are highlights from his statement:

SAFETY NET

"The EU's decision to create such a mechanism implies the acknowledgement, in principle, that this is not just our problem. But it certainly creates a safety net for Greece."

REFORMS

"On March 25 the EU unanimously decided to support us. Does that mean that the job is over? No, we have to make the necessary, great changes."

AUSTERITY

"True, the measures hurt, but think of what would have happened if we had entered a state of bankruptcy, and if we had not been able to borrow.

"We showed our will to put the country back in order. My reflexes were patriotic because the country was sinking. If the country had gone down, it wouldn't have hurt the rich, it would have primarily hurt the average Greek and the weak.

"My socialist reflexes were to save the country from bankruptcy."

SAFE HARBOUR

"Today, there is a (support) mechanism where before there was nothing. It is a safe harbour for the country from the speculation in markets and a concrete manifestation of support by the European Union."

IMF

"It is a success for Greece that such a mechanism has been set up. Could it (mechanism) have been more European? Yes it could have been. The involvement of the IMF resulted from an EU decision and the insistence of certain interests, the conservative European Popular Party.

"The IMF has a minority stake in that mechanism but it also participates as an organisation which has funds and experience in creating such support schemes.

"The IMF is already involved in this process, even today. It is in the process of monitoring Greece."

NOT BANKRUPT

"The IMF's involvement does not mean that the country is bankrupt. It means that it can raise money from there as well, a loan, but it also means that the stability programme, the terms ... go through the IMF."

GREECE'S INTEREST

"The activation of the EU/IMF mechanism will be decided based on the country's interest ... and we are making all the preparatory actions as required." (Reporting by Harry Papachristou, George Georgiopoulos, Renee Maltezou; compiled by Ingrid Melander)