The first meeting in a new round of talks between the Greek government’s economic team and representatives of major financial institutions to conclude the review of Greece’s program ended in Athens with an agreement with a commitment to conclude the review by April 22. Finance Minister Euclid Tsakalotos called the discussions “an introductory talk” while confirming the April deadline.
According to the finance minister, there was no discussion regarding the Wikileaks transcript released at the weekend. Asked if the government was troubled by the fact that the European side appeared to be siding with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Tsakalotos declined to comment.
Alternate Finance Minister George Chouliarakis also attended the meeting at the Hilton Hotel, which was surrounded by protestors taking part in a rally organized by the civil servants’ union federation ADEDY against austerity measures, with slogans demanding that the IMF leave Greece.
