Greek bailout talks still inconclusive
Greek government sources said on September 9 that Athens and the "troika" participating in Greece's bailout - including the European Commission (EC), the European Central Bank (ECB) and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) - still have a "long way to go" in negotiating a package of "austerity" measures." that the mythical land must undertake to receive the necessary funds to save the country from the risk of bankruptcy next fall.
According to the above source, after the negotiations between Greek Finance Minister Yannis Stournaras and the "troika" of international creditors, the participants still only spoke in general terms and did not reach a specific conclusion. The creditors want Greece to resolve the financial fraud issue in order to increase the State budget revenue, accelerate the privatization plan, and pursue the labor market reform program.
A troika member confirmed that EU and IMF auditors were working around the clock to determine whether Greece had met its commitments to receive the 31.5 billion euro ($39.9 billion) instalment of its second 130 billion euro bailout next autumn.
In the next few days, Athens will have to complete an austerity program to save 11.5 billion euros in 2013-2014. This official also said that Athens is asking creditors to create a more favorable environment because the decision to cut spending too hard and too quickly will cause the Greek economy to sink deeper into recession.
Representatives of the "troika" will stay in Greece for a while longer and will hold talks with the country's Prime Minister Antonis Samaras on September 10.
On the Greek side, the leaders of the three parties participating in the ruling coalition had a working session with Prime Minister Samaras on the evening of September 9, but did not reach a consensus on the package of measures proposed by the government, because the "trio" had not accepted all the proposals put forward by Athens, especially those related to the plan to cut salaries and social welfare.
Representatives of the three parties will continue working with Mr. Samaras on September 12./.
According to (TTXVN) - DT