BRUSSELS (MNI) – Talks for a Greek debt deal and disbursement of a
long-delayed E31.5 billion loan tranche will continue “until the last
minute” and at all levels, Greece’s Prime Minister Antonis Samaras said
Friday.

Speaking at a press conference at the end of a two-day EU leaders’
summit here, Samaras expressed optimism that the euro area finance
ministers would reach an agreement at their meeting on Monday evening.

“I believe there is real progress at all levels. Indeed, we can
push for a solution that will be beneficial for our country,” Samaras
said. “The past two days I have met with many of my counterparts and
discussed the EU cohesion funds issue and the loan tranche.”

Among the officials Samaras spoke to were German Chancellor Angela
Merkel, French president Francois Hollande, Italian and Spanish premiers
Mario Monti and Mariano Rajoy, and Eurogroup head Jean-Claude Juncker,
as well the prime ministers of Ireland, Portugal, Belgium, Slovenia and
Britain.

“Most of them are supporters of Greece, but I cannot tell you more
[about an evolving agreement],” Samaras said. He expressed satisfaction
at a change of sentiment towards Greece, saying “it is of prime
importance that the view that Greece is to blame for all delays has
ceased to exist.”

Asked to elaborate on the deal now being discussed to reduce Greek
debt, Samaras refused to give details. He said he was prepared for any
outcome and he had contingency scenarios for them, but added it was not
wise to talk about them.

As regards the debate on the allocation of EU cohesion funds,
Samaras said that he “put up a big fight” so Greece would have
preferential treatment.

“The data used for the new funds now allows us to refer to the
period before 2009,” Samaras explained. “We want a recalculation based
on the current data and the 6-year recession Greece is in, and the
problems we are facing.”

He added: “Our request was received positively.”

Greek government officials said later that Greece had done more
than it was asked to do and it was now time for the lenders to live up
to their side of the bargain.

These officials argued that fact Greece has done what it promised
shows that the real reason behind the inability to reach agreement so
far is the discord among Eurozone governments.

The same officials explained that a final deal on Greek debt had
not been possible at the Eurogroup meeting Tuesday night, because there
were too many complications and technical difficulties with the
calculations.

“It was fortunate that we did exactly what we were asked to and
passed all 72 prior actions [required by the official lenders],” one
government official said. “Because if we hadn’t, then the Eurogroup
wouldn’t have disagreed on Tuesday. They would have agreed – to kick us
out of the Eurozone.”

Samaras will not return to Athens immediately. Instead, he will
remain in Brussels since he is scheduled this evening to speak on the
telephone with IMF Managing Director Christine Largarde and U.S.
Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner.

On Saturday, at 1530 GMT/1030 ET, the Eurogroup finance ministers
are expected to hold a teleconference to prepare for Monday’s meeting.

–Athens bureau; apapamiltiadou@mni-news.com

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