Greece risks being unable to make the next payment to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), which is due on June 5, unless a deal is reached with its international creditors. This was announced by the parliamentary speaker of ruling SYRIZA party Nikos Filis on Wednesday, daily Kathimerini reports. Greece is due to make several payments, totaling EUR 1.5 B, as it is negotiating with the EU and IMF to be granted further bailout in return for carrying out a set of reforms. A payment of about EUR 750 M was made to the IMF last week after emptying a holding account at the Fund. Talks with the EU and IMF have lasted for the past four months as the two sides disagree over the list of labour and pensions reforms proposed by the creditors, but opposed by Greece. In case a deal is reached, it is expected that EUR 7.2 B will be released in aid, which will provide the much needed cash for Greece. According to Filis, the Greek government will first ensure that it has money to pay pensions and wages before making debt repayments. The European creditors extinguished on Tuesday Greek hopes of a swift end to the negotiations and said that the talks have to be accelerated before the country runs out of cash. Filis stated that the government is seeking a deal, which will not include further pension cuts, aiming for lower primary budget surplus and restructuring of debt.
 |
| READ THE ORIGINAL POST AT www.novinite.com |
