ATHENS: Greece owes money to the Brussels Group the IMF, European commission and European Central Bank (ECB) following its two bailouts in 2010 and 2012. A further €7.2bn (£5.3bn) in bailout money is still to be paid out and fears are growing that without it Greece will default on its debts, potentially precipitating the country’s exit from the euro. The most pressing of its obligations are payments to the IMF totaling almost €1bn by 12 May.
But Skourletis tried to sound a note of reassurance that payments would be met. “The country has chosen to pay its obligations and reach an agreement [with lenders]. We are trying to have the money,” he said.
A Greek government spokesman, Gabriel Sakellaridis, said Athens intended to meet all its debt obligations but it needed fresh funds before the end of the month. “Liquidity is a pressing issue,” he said. “The Greek government is not waiting until the end of May for a liquidity injection. It expects this liquidity to be offered to the Greek economy as soon as possible.”
