Brussels--Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras headed for last-ditch talks with European Commission chief Jean-Claude Juncker in Brussels on Wednesday to lay the ground for a deal that will keep the country from bankruptcy.
Tsipras warned European leaders against sowing divisions ahead of the meeting, which will discuss rival reform plans presented by debt-stricken Athens and its international creditors after a lengthy stand-off.
A deal would unlock the final 7.2 billion euros ($8.0 billion) tranche would help Greece make a critical 300 million euro repayment to the International Monetary Fund on Friday and avoid a possible default.
"We must avoid division," Tsipras said as he left Athens, adding: "I am certain the leadership of Europe will do what must be done, it will join the side of realism."
Four months of fractious talks have stalled over the resistance of Greece's anti-austerity Syriza government to reforms demanded by Greece's creditors, the EU, IMF and European Central Bank.
But the European Commission warned that a final deal would not be reached at the meeting, which was expected to begin at 1830 GMT at its huge glass-and-steel Berlaymont headquarters in Brussels.
"We do not expect any final outcome tonight, this is a first discussion not a concluding one," said Juncker's spokesman, Margaritis Schinas.
European Central Bank president Mario Draghi said Wednesday that the ECB wanted Greece to remain in the single currency, but that a "strong agreement" was needed between Athens and its creditors.
AFP
