EUROZONE-GREECE/PUTIN-TSIPRAS Greek PM Tsipras meets with Putin in Russia, no financial aid discussed

Record ID: 151786

  • Title: EUROZONE-GREECE/PUTIN-TSIPRAS Greek PM Tsipras meets with Putin in Russia, no financial aid discussed
  • Date: 19th June 2015
  • Summary: ST. PETERSBURG, RUSSIA (JUNE 19, 2015) (RUSSIAN POOL) (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) RUSSIAN PRESIDENT, VLADIMIR PUTIN, SAYING: "I am very pleased that we keep constant and steady contacts at all levels. But because of the reasons we all know about, our economic ties are unfortunately on the decline." TALKS IN PROGRESS (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) RUSSIAN PRESIDENT, VLADIMIR PUTIN, SAYING
  • Embargoed: 4th July 2015 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVARY4T2JV54SLY15JZA1XHI5HH
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras met with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday (June 19) in St. Petersburg, as default looms over Athens unless it submits new proposals in the loans-for-reforms talks.
    Greece is on course to default on a 1.6 billion euro debt repayment it must make to the International Monetary Fund on June 30 unless the creditors resume funding.
    Tsipras nevertheless exuded confidence and calm, going ahead with a planned meeting with Putin on the sidelines of an economic conference in St Petersburg.
    "I am very pleased that we keep constant and steady contacts at all levels. But because of the reasons we all know about, our economic ties are unfortunately on the decline," said Putin opening the talks.
    "In 2014 our trade fell by 40 percent," Putin continued to say. "In order to improve the situation, in April this year we adopted a joint action plan for 2015-2016."
    Tsipras expressed his desire to expand bilateral cooperation with Russia.
    "In continuation of our meeting in April and also the agreement we signed then in Moscow, we are here to continue our contacts aimed at developing cooperation in many areas including in the energy field, and at the same time we've undertaken steps to deepen our cooperation in agriculture," said the Greek PM, addressing Putin and the Russian delegation.
    Russian Deputy Finance Minister Sergei Storchak said on Thursday that Greece has not asked for Russia's financial assistance and its prime minister is visiting Russia to discuss joint projects, not to seek cash.
    Euro zone finance ministers will discuss how to hand a looming Greek default at a meeting in Brussels on Monday (June 22).
    For the Eurogroup to consider a compromise, Greece would first need to submit new proposals on contentious issues such as pension reform and a widening of the tax base for Value Added Tax.
    So far the left-wing government of Alexis Tsipras, elected on a promise to end austerity, has refused to cross what it calls these "red lines". The creditors argue that without such reforms, Greece will not be able to be financially independent.
    Athens must make a 1.6 billion euro debt repayment to the International Monetary Fund on June 30 or be declared in default.
    With deposit outflows accelerating this weeks as talks have foundered, a missed payment could force Greece to impose capital controls to ration cash withdrawals and stem the flow of money out of the country or under mattresses.
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