Greek finance minister, international debt inspectors in negotiations over 2014 budget gap

by  Associated Press Greece in talks to resolve budget gap disagreement Associated Press - 18 November 2013 05:24-05:00

ATHENS, Greece (AP) — Greece's finance minister is meeting with representatives of the country's international creditors, part of tough negotiations to resolve a disagreement over 2014 budget cuts and allow the release of further rescue loans.

Yannis Stournaras was meeting Monday with officials from the International Monetary Fund, European Central Bank and European Commission. The delegation is scrutinizing a government forecast that the scheduled bailout loans will be 500 million euros ($670 million) short of the country's 2014 financing needs. Athens maintains the sum is small enough to make up without resorting to further austerity measures.

Stournaras said late Sunday it was too early for a final agreement, but that a solution would be found.

Greece has relied on international rescue loans since 2010, under a bailout program worth 240 billion euros ($322 billion).

News Topics: Business, General news, Government budget deficits, National budgets, Government budgets, Financial crisis, Government finance, Government business and finance, Government and politics, National governments, Economy, Financial markets

People, Places and Companies: Greece, Athens, Western Europe, Europe

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