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Greek PM Tsipras has 'realistic' debt deal proposal | |
(35 minutes later) | |
Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras says he has issued a "a realistic proposal" to its international creditors in an attempt to secure a deal over its debts. | |
"We have submitted a realistic plan for Greece to exit the crisis," he said. | |
Mr Tspiras said the plan included "concessions that will be difficult". | |
His statement follows talks in Berlin attended by the heads of both the International Monetary Fund and the European Central Bank. | His statement follows talks in Berlin attended by the heads of both the International Monetary Fund and the European Central Bank. |
International Monetary Fund chief Christine Lagarde and ECB president Mario Draghi presence at the meeting between German Chancellor Angela Merkel and France's Francois Hollande underlines the seriousness of the talks. | |
Reports suggest the meeting was aimed at coming up with a "final proposal" to issue to Athens. | |
But Mr Tspiras, who was not included in the meeting, said he had not yet been contacted by the IMF and European officials. | |
"We are not waiting for them to submit a proposal, Greece is submitting a plan - it is now clear that the decision on whether they want to adjust to realism... the decision rests with the political leadership of Europe," he added. | |
A €300m (£216m) payment from Greece to the IMF is due on Friday. | |
There are fears Greece does not have the necessary funds to pay and could default on the debt, ultimately leading to its exit from the eurozone. | There are fears Greece does not have the necessary funds to pay and could default on the debt, ultimately leading to its exit from the eurozone. |
Friday's payment is the first of four totalling €1.5bn that Greece is due to pay to the IMF in June, and it is understood that the payments could be all bundled together and repaid in a single transaction at the end of the month. | Friday's payment is the first of four totalling €1.5bn that Greece is due to pay to the IMF in June, and it is understood that the payments could be all bundled together and repaid in a single transaction at the end of the month. |
If Greece decides to repay the funds in this way, it would have to notify the IMF, but it has not yet done so. | If Greece decides to repay the funds in this way, it would have to notify the IMF, but it has not yet done so. |
'Absurd proposals' | 'Absurd proposals' |
The country remains in a four-month long deadlock with international creditors over the release of €7.2bn in remaining bailout funds. | |
European lenders as well as the IMF are pushing for greater austerity reforms in return for the cash, which the Greek government has so far refused to make. | |
Germany's Vice-Chancellor, Sigmar Gabriel, said he supported efforts by the French and German governments to reach a deal in negotiations about Athens' massive debts, warning Greece's exit from the eurozone would have "gigantic consequences". | Germany's Vice-Chancellor, Sigmar Gabriel, said he supported efforts by the French and German governments to reach a deal in negotiations about Athens' massive debts, warning Greece's exit from the eurozone would have "gigantic consequences". |
"The political consequences of a Greek bankruptcy in the eurozone would of course be gigantic. I think a lot of people have the impression that we're better off without Greece in the eurozone. | "The political consequences of a Greek bankruptcy in the eurozone would of course be gigantic. I think a lot of people have the impression that we're better off without Greece in the eurozone. |
The truth is that if we break the first piece out of the European house, Europe would be in a different state." | The truth is that if we break the first piece out of the European house, Europe would be in a different state." |
But Syrzia parliamentary spokesman Nikos Filis reiterated that the government would not sign an agreement that was incompatible with its anti-austerity programme. | But Syrzia parliamentary spokesman Nikos Filis reiterated that the government would not sign an agreement that was incompatible with its anti-austerity programme. |
"If we're talking about an ultimatum... which is not within the framework of the popular mandate, it is obvious that the government cannot co-sign and accept it," Mr Filis told Antenna TV. | "If we're talking about an ultimatum... which is not within the framework of the popular mandate, it is obvious that the government cannot co-sign and accept it," Mr Filis told Antenna TV. |