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Greek debt crisis agreement in sight - Tsipras Greek debt crisis agreement in sight - Tsipras
(about 9 hours later)
Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras says talks in Brussels on Greece's debt crisis were "constructive" and he believes "an agreement is in sight".Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras says talks in Brussels on Greece's debt crisis were "constructive" and he believes "an agreement is in sight".
But he said Greece still rejected some proposals put forward by creditors.But he said Greece still rejected some proposals put forward by creditors.
Eurogroup chief Jeroen Dijsselbloem said the talks between Mr Tsipras and European Commission chief Jean-Claude Juncker were "very good" and would resume in a few days.Eurogroup chief Jeroen Dijsselbloem said the talks between Mr Tsipras and European Commission chief Jean-Claude Juncker were "very good" and would resume in a few days.
Greece has a €300m (£216m) IMF repayment due on Friday.Greece has a €300m (£216m) IMF repayment due on Friday.
Mr Tsipras said that Greece and its creditors were now "very close to an agreement over primary surpluses" which he said would mean going forward "without the tough austerity measures of the past".Mr Tsipras said that Greece and its creditors were now "very close to an agreement over primary surpluses" which he said would mean going forward "without the tough austerity measures of the past".
However, he added: "There are points that no-one would consider as a base for discussion. The talks will continue in the coming days." But he said there were "points that no-one would consider as a base for discussion", citing cuts to pensions and a raise in sales tax for electricity.
The primary budget surplus - the amount by which tax revenues exceed public spending - was expected to be one of the main sticking points in talks, and Greece had been keen to agree a lower figure.
International creditors have put forward proposals for a deal to unlock funds for Greece while Mr Tsipras has presented a new plan of his own.International creditors have put forward proposals for a deal to unlock funds for Greece while Mr Tsipras has presented a new plan of his own.
Earlier, French President Francois Hollande suggested Greece and its lenders were on the brink of a deal. French President Francois Hollande had earlier suggested Greece and its lenders were on the brink of an agreement.
Reports from Greece said Mr Hollande, Mr Tsipras and the German Chancellor, Angela Merkel, had already agreed to a deal on one key point. However, Greece's Deputy Shipping Minister, Thodoris Dritsas, said on Thursday that what had been proposed by Mr Juncker during the meeting had been "beneath [Greece's] expectations in every way", Reuters reported.
A European Commission spokeswoman had dampened hopes of an imminent breakthrough, telling reporters that no "final outcome" was expected from Wednesday's talks. Greece debt talks - main sticking points
Greece's current bailout arrangement with the IMF, European Central Bank (ECB) and European Commission runs out at the end of June. The primary budget surplus target - the amount by which tax revenues exceed public spending - has for weeks been a major sticking point.
The cash-strapped government has been haggling since February over the release of the last €7.2bn in funds.
The latest draft deal has been put together by international creditors following emergency talks late on Monday with Chancellor Merkel and President Hollande.
The details remain under wraps but the document is believed to call for pensions changes and an overhaul of labour laws.
According to Reuters news agency, Greece will be asked to post a budget surplus of 1% of GDP this year and 2% next.According to Reuters news agency, Greece will be asked to post a budget surplus of 1% of GDP this year and 2% next.
Greece has proposed 0.8% for 2015 and 1.5% for 2016, according to reports from Athens.Greece has proposed 0.8% for 2015 and 1.5% for 2016, according to reports from Athens.
Greece's current bailout arrangement with the IMF, European Central Bank (ECB) and European Commission runs out at the end of June.
The cash-strapped government has been haggling since February over the release of the last €7.2bn in funds.
Asked if Greece would make its next repayments to the IMF, Mr Tsipras said, "don't worry, we will continue".
Friday's payment is the first of four due to the IMF in June.
IMF sources say Greece could repay all the instalments in a single transaction at the end of the month, although the Athens government has not yet asked to do so.
Details of the creditors' proposals remain under wraps, but the document is believed to call for pensions changes and an overhaul of labour laws.
Mr Tsipras's own proposals, which he described as "a realistic plan for Greece to exit the crisis", were earlier dismissed by Mr Dijsselbloem as going "nowhere near far enough".Mr Tsipras's own proposals, which he described as "a realistic plan for Greece to exit the crisis", were earlier dismissed by Mr Dijsselbloem as going "nowhere near far enough".
Eurozone still in denial - by Robert Peston, BBC economics editor
With €300m due to the IMF on Friday, and a further €1.3bn later this month, this has always been a row about book-keeping entries and the accounting treatment of debts.
It is a dispute about whether the eurozone's creditors will release funds so that they can pay themselves and avoid having to call Greece in default.
Or to put it another way, it is all about whether the IMF and eurozone can keep up the pretence that Greece is a sound and solvent debtor.
But doesn't it normally tell you something pretty important about those who owe you money when you have to lend to them so that they can keep up the payments to you?
Read more from Robert
Greek debt crisis: Special report
Mr Tsipras's far-left Syriza party won elections in January on a pledge to oppose deeply unpopular austerity measures imposed by Greece's creditors.Mr Tsipras's far-left Syriza party won elections in January on a pledge to oppose deeply unpopular austerity measures imposed by Greece's creditors.
However, failure to reach a deal could trigger a Greek default and a potential exit from the eurozone.However, failure to reach a deal could trigger a Greek default and a potential exit from the eurozone.
Syriza's parliamentary group chairman Nikos Philis warned that if "we have no prospect of a deal on Friday or Monday, we won't pay the money", referring to the 5 June debt instalment to the IMF. Mario Draghi, president of the ECB, said on Wednesday the bank wanted Greece to stay in the single currency, but that a "strong agreement" was needed between Athens and its creditors.
Mario Draghi, president of the ECB, said the bank wanted Greece to stay in the single currency, but that a "strong agreement" was needed between Athens and its creditors.