Brussels, 21/09/2011 (Agence Europe) - The chief fact-finders of Greece's international creditors, the European Union, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the European Central Bank (ECB), will return to work in Athens at the start of next week, explained the European Commission in the evening of Tuesday 20 September 2011. They will be examining whether the €8 billion sixth instalment of the first Greek bailout can be paid out (see EUROPE 10453), and their return was reported ahead of the European Commission's announcement by Greek finance minister Evángelos Venizélos.
The Greek finance minister and the Commission broadcast the news after a telephone conversation in which the Commission said that “noticeable progress” had been made, and technical discussions would be ongoing over the next few days.
Talks about Greece will be continuing in Washington, the United States, at the weekend on the fringes of the IMF's Annual General Meeting, explained a press release issued by the Greek finance minister, who will be attending the IMF meeting.
Not wishing to give his name, an official from the Greek finance minister explained to Reuters after the above-mentioned telephone conversation that he was confident that Greece's international creditors would be paying out the next instalment of aid because they were already close to agreement.
On Tuesday, Greece promised to slim down its civil service still further to reassure its creditors and get them to pay out the next instalment of aid, which Athens needs if it is to avoid defaulting on its debt next month. (OL/transl.fl)