Greek Prime Minister Antonis Samaras has said that his government expects to successfully conclude talks with the country's international creditors in time for the EU summit.
In an interview to Greek newspaper Kathimerini on Sunday, he admitted that there are differences between the creditors on how to cut the debt mountain. However, Samaras said he is confident that the troika will resolve the disagreements in time for the summit that starts October 18.
"By then, two things will have happened," he told the newspaper. "First, we will have completed the agreement on the fiscal and structural prior actions for the disbursement. Secondly, Europe and the IMF will have most likely overcome their differences over how the debt sustainability will be assured."
The talks between Greek authorities and the troika, consisting of the International Monetary Fund, the European Union and the European Central Bank, over a planned EUR 13.5 billion austerity plan is currently underway.
The successful completion of the negotiations will facilitate disbursement of loan amount worth EUR 31.5 billion.
Samaras has been pushing for more time for the country to meet its budget targets, a demand which received the backing of the IMF at the recently concluded meeting of global financial chiefs in Tokyo.
Samaras told the daily that his country is facing the "final hurdle". He also warned that if Greece fails to secure the money, the consequences will be "dramatic."
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