After mutual accusations between Greece and its lenders the two sides negotiations have restarted as the pressure on the Greek government to reach a deal is immense.
After The Austrian Chancellor Werner Faymann mediated to end the standoff between Athens and its international lenders Prime Minister Tsipras had a phone call with European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker. A positive step since Juncker has recently accused Tsipras of “misinforming” his people.
“The government expects within coming hours to receive a new proposal by its lenders” a government official close to the talks said to iefimerida.gr on condition of anonymity. The Greek government has "many alternatives and compromise proposals" the person said.
Alexis Tsipras' article in 'Der Tagesspiegel'
Alexis Tsipras penned in the pages of German daily Der Tagesspiegel railing against anyone who says German taxpayers are paying for Greek wages and pensions plus some Schopenhauer thrown in.
“During a negotiation, an exchange of arguments is legitimate so long as there is sincerity and good faith between the parties. Otherwise, when the dialogue is ongoing with no end in sight then the methods used are akin to those described by the great German philosopher Schopenhauer in “The Art of Always Being Right” said the Greek Prime Minister.
He also expressed his confidence that his government is determined to ensure the financial viability of Greece's welfare-state.
Eurogroup ministers meeting
Eurozone finance minister meet in Luxembourg on Thursday with the agenda dominated by the Greek financial crisis. But even Greece’s Finance Minister Yanis Varoufakis is pessimistic about the outcome.
When asked if there could be an agreement at the meeting of euro zone finance ministers his answer was unequivocal :
“I do not believe so. Eurogroup meetings are not designed to stage fresh conversations that have not been prepared in advance. I do not believe this preparation has taken place and also it’s my considered opinion that now the agreement has to be reached at a level of political leaders, heads of state, prime ministers, chancellors,” said Varoufakis after talks in Paris at the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development.
Tsipras to visit Putin
On Thursday, during the ministers' meeting in Luxembourg, Tsipras will visit the Saint Petersburg International Economic Forum, and is scheduled to talk to President Vladimir Putin on Friday. Deutsche Welle (DW) - Germany’s international broadcaster – reports that this visit could be a message to Europe that Greece can turn to help elsewhere.