By Renee Maltezou and John O’Donnell ATHENS / FRANKFURT (Reuters) – Greece on Thursday sent a request to the area euro to extend a “loan agreement” for up to six months, but Germany says there is an offer of a pact of this kind and that Athens must respect the conditions of the existing bailout. The Greek initiative, confirmed by an official spokesman, is an attempt by the new leftist government of Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras of maintain a vital financial line for an interim period, while dodging a harsh austerity program of the EU and the IMF. An EU source said it depends on how the request is made that the finance ministers of the currency bloc of 19 nations, who rejected such ideas in a meeting Monday accept it as a basis for resuming talks. The Minister German Finance Wolfgang Schäuble, rejected the Greek maneuver, saying the television channel ZDF on Tuesday afternoon. “It’s not about extending a credit program, but whether this rescue program may or may not complete” However, the German Economy Minister Sigmar Gabriel, leader of the Social Democrats, the junior partner in the coalition government led by Angela Merkel’s conservatives praised what he called a sign of the Greek government, it is ready to negotiate. While the current bailout agreement with the Eurozone will expire on February 28, Tsipras said negotiations were at a key stage and their demands for an end to austerity were gaining support. ” protests in Europe were given to support the steps taken by Greece and have achieved first through contacts with foreign leaders create a positive position on our orders, “he said during a televised meeting with President Karolos Papoulias. EU officials said they were held intensive consultations between Athens, the Eurogroup and the Commission European, as well as France and Italy also involved in the search for an agreement. Continued …
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