Greece / EU: Tsipras confident a “happy ending” of the negotiations – Liberation

The Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras expressed confidence Sunday a “happy ending” of the ongoing negotiations with its creditors for the resumption of international aid, even if the end of the tunnel does not seem to view.

“There are powers that represent specific interests and wish to break, but there are also powers that will prevail, to a sincere and honest compromise,” said the Premier radical left in an interview with the weekly Greek Realnews Sunday.

Sunday, experts from Greece, EU, ECB, IMF and the European Stability Mechanism (ESM ) continued for the second day in Brussels to scrutinize the list of reforms to be presented Athens.

They should, according to the government report to the Greek state three billion euros, bringing a growth rate of 1.4% of GDP and a primary surplus of 1.5% in 2015.

“I’m optimistic about a happy ending soon this first phase of negotiations, and the the status of standardization, “added Mr. Tsipras, while the country’s banks are virtually empty.

” There is still much to clarify before submitting a complete list, detailed and credible ” warned a European source. “Discussions are intense and the ball is in the camp of the Greeks, as well as the timing,” said Will they added.

When the list that Mr. Tsipras pledged 20 March to present “in the coming days,” is officially proposed, it must be endorsed by the euro area, before any disbursement of a new tranche of aid. But the Eurogroup meeting is unlikely before Easter Sunday told a diplomatic source

-. ‘Good climate’ –

“marathon discussions” in Brussels are ” difficult “, according to the Greek press. “There is still much work to do” to reach an agreement, had said Saturday the ANA news agency. Creditors insist “on tougher measures,” said the television channel Mega.

However, the government assured on Sunday that “discussions were continuing in a good climate” and that there was “a agreement on measures aimed high incomes. “

Among the reforms proposed by Athens, which wants to end austerity, contained indeed increased taxation of high incomes, measures against tax evasion and against fuel and cigarette trafficking.

The government also expects privatization, with public sector participation. Deputy Prime Minister of Greece, Ioannis Dragasakis, who visited Beijing in recent days, said that there are “real and limitless possibilities of economic cooperation” with China.

After the concession in 2008 of two terminals at the Port of Piraeus to the Chinese Cosco group, it is currently one of the candidates for the purchase of 67% shares of the Greek state in society from Piraeus Port (OLP).

Athens absolutely must reach an agreement by next week with its creditors to get some of the last tranche of loans amounting to € 7.2 billion, otherwise it may not able to repay its debts.

Athens benefited from two successive loans from the EU and IMF since the beginning of the crisis in 2010, EUR 240 billion, offset by a draconian austerity plan .

Alexis Tsipras wants to see the conclusion of the agreement on reforms as a first step before “a new agreement on growth by June, which will also include debt reduction” of colossal countries (176% of GDP in 2014). “