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Wednesday, April 29, 2015

Greece prepares reform bill, lenders seek concessions

By Renee Maltezou and Jan Strupczewski ATHENS/BRUSSELS (Reuters) - Euro zone officials sought to wring policy concessions from Greece on Wednesday to unlock urgently needed aid after Athens said it would present a list of reforms for legislation to show it is serious about implementing its promises. The draft bill was not expected to include major novelties beyond measures already discussed with EU and IMF lenders, but Athens is hoping it will speed up slow-moving talks and permit at least an initial deal to ease its searing cash crunch. They will be assessed in more detail when technical-level teams from Greece and the lenders meet on Thursday, Greek government officials said. Despite lenders' scepticism, Greece's government is hoping an interim deal can be struck before a May 12 payment of 750 million euros (£541.2 million) to the IMF that Greek officials have suggested could be difficult to make without more aid.


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