Tsipras is confident that Greece will deal with creditors … – Reuters

By Renee Maltezou and Deepa Babington

ATHENS (Reuters) – The Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras said Thursday Reuters is confident that his government will reach an agreement with its foreign creditors in late April, despite differences on important issues like pension and labor market reforms.

Tsipras also said they had found several points of agreement from the beginning of the talks, especially in areas such as tax collection, corruption and distribution of the tax burden among those who have more resources to pay.

But acknowledged that both parties disagree on four major topics: labor standards, pension reform, increased VAT and privatizations, which he referred to as” state-owned development “instead of asset sales.

The comments were made at a time when Athens faces the prospect of being out of money within weeks, unless you reach an agreement with its European creditors and the IMF.

The German finance minister, Wolfgang Schaeuble, one of the harshest critics of Tsipras, said Wednesday that “no one has a clue” about how one could be reached According limiting the hopes of a breakthrough at a meeting of finance ministers from the euro zone April 24 in Riga.

“Despite the cacophony, erratic leaks and releases of recent days the other hand, remain firmly optimistic that there will be an agreement by the end of the month,” said Tsipras Reuters.

“Because I know that Europe has learned to live with their disagreements, combine parts and go forward, “he said.

Tsipras said I was sure that Europe does not “choose the path of immoral and brutal financial blackmail” but opts for “change of bringing differences” and “stability”. Continued …