ATHENS: Greece’s prime minister voiced hope that bailout talks between the cash-strapped country and its international creditors are “very close” to an initial deal, and ruled out early elections if the marathon negotiations fail.
Alexis Tsipras told private Star TV that he believes a first agreement can be struck by the end of next week, which can then be ratified by Greece’s European partners.
“I think we are close,” he said, in an interview screened just before midnight Monday.
Since its election in January, Tsipras’ radical left-led government has been locked in increasingly fraught talks with other European countries that use the euro currency – which provide the bulk of the bailout cash that has kept Greece afloat for five years.
At stake is a final 7.2 billion-euro ($7.8 billion) rescue loan installment, which will enable the country to keep up payments to its creditors – as well as to state employees and pensioners.
