The Minister of Finances Yannis Stournaras admitted that the ongoing negotiations with the troika are difficult, as he was leaving from Maximos Hall, where he met with the Prime Minister earlier this morning.
Earlier in the day Mr. Stournaras updated Prime Minister Samaras on a number of matters he plans to discuss with Government Vice President Evangelos Venizelos in their prearranged afternoon meeting. The Finance Minister reported that the negotiations were difficult because “we are near the end of the program” and that “they are not demanding new measures. No. We are negotiating”.
Yesterday the Deputy Spokesman of the IMF William Murray reported that the troika would not be returning to Athens until a number of technical matters regarding finances, reforms and the credit sector have been addressed as agreed.
Senior officers at the Ministry of Finances have asserted that the troika will return to Athens at some point in early February, revising the earlier estimation that the IMF, EU and ECB representatives would return immediately after the Eurogroup on the 27th of January.
