Greek bailout negotiations soon to begin by logistical issues – Reuters

By Angeliki Koutantou

ATHENS (Reuters) – The start of talks between Greece and its international creditors on a new rescue program will be postponed for a few days until some organizational matters are resolved, an official of the Ministry of Finance said on Saturday.

The meetings with representatives of the European Commission, the European Central Bank (ECB) and International Monetary Fund (IMF) would begin on Friday, but delayed by logistical issues ranging from the place of negotiations to the security measures to be implemented.

A Ministry of Finance, which issued statements on condition of anonymity, said discussions between the technical teams of creditors begin on Tuesday, while the heads of delegations come to Athens with a delay of a couple of days caused by technical issues.

“The reasons for the delay I are not political or diplomatic, “he said.

The Greeks considered lenders visit to Athens as a violation of sovereignty. The bitter six-month talks with the EU were held in Brussels at the request of the Greek government.

Another official Greek Finance Ministry previously denied Saturday that the Government I was trying to keep international creditors away from government departments and said there was no problem with that visited the General Accounting Office.

When asked whether the government will now allow the heads of missions of the EU, IMF and ECB visit Athens for talks on a new loan, the minister State Alekos Flabouraris said: “If the agreement says they should visit a ministry, we have to accept it.”

The confusion over the expected start of talks on Friday underlined the challenges that lie ahead for the deal to bailout 86,000 million is approved in Parliament to August 20, as claimed by Greece. More …