Tsipras asks for quick deal with lenders

As negotiations continued between Greece and the international lenders, media sources reported on a meeting between Greek prime minister Alexis Tsipras and German chancellor Angela Merkel, on the sidelines of an extraordinary European Council on 23 April 2015. Mr Tsipras asked for an interim agreement to be signed by the end of April, amid concerns that Greece might be running out of money.

The negotiations with Greece were also one of the main topics of the Eurozone meeting which took place on 24 April 2015. According to media reports, an aggressive tone was present at the meeting, with strong confrontation between Greek finance minister Yanis Varoufakis and his Eurozone colleagues. Further reports suggested Mr Varoufakis had been taken powers away and was no longer leading negotiations.

• Primary Source

ESO: Background information: Greece wants to pay back IMF loan http://www.europeansources.info/record/greece-wants-to-pay-back-imf-loan/

ESO: Background information: The Greek debt crisis: Key sources http://www.europeansources.info/record/the-greek-debt-crisis-key-sources/

EurActiv, 24.04.15: Merkel sheds light on confidential talks with Tsipras http://www.euractiv.com/sections/euro-finance/merkel-sheds-light-confidential-talks-tsipras-314054

EUObserver [Opinion], 24.04.15: Default: A 'stairway to hell’ for the Greek people https://euobserver.com/opinion/128453

Politico, 24.04.15: Glimmer of Greek optimism http://www.politico.eu/article/glimmer-of-greek-optimism/

Project Syndicate [Opinion], 23.04.15: A New Deal for Greece http://www.project-syndicate.org/commentary/greece-debt-deal-by-yanis-varoufakis-2015-04

The Guardian, 24.04.15: Greek debts: what does it owe? When will the money run out? http://www.theguardian.com/business/2015/apr/24/greek-debts-what-does-it-owe-when-will-the-money-run-out

The Guardian, 23.04.15: Alexis Tsipras seeks interim deal for Greece in talks with Angela Merkel http://www.theguardian.com/business/2015/apr/23/alexis-tsipras-seeks-interim-deal-greece-talks-angela-merkel

BBC News, 24.04.15: Greece: 'Time running out' for debt deal http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-32445535

EurActiv, 27.04.15: Greek minister suggests early election as solution to impasse http://www.euractiv.com/sections/euro-finance/greek-minister-suggests-early-election-way-out-impasse-314098

EurActiv, 28.04.15: Greece reshuffles EU-IMF team, defends Varoufakis against 'manipulated' media attacks http://www.euractiv.com/sections/euro-finance/greece-reshuffles-eu-imf-team-defends-varoufakis-against-manipulated-media

EUObserver, 27.04.15: [Analysis]: Sidelining Varoufakis is Tsipras' wild card https://euobserver.com/beyond-brussels/128479

EurActiv, 30.04.15: Greece considers selling ports to reach deal with creditors http://www.euractiv.com/sections/euro-finance/greece-considers-selling-ports-reach-deal-creditors-314223

Social Europe Journal, 28.04.15: Are Creditors Pushing Greece Deliberately Into Default? http://www.socialeurope.eu/2015/04/are-creditors-pushing-greece-deliberately-into-default/

ESO: Background information: Meeting: Eurogroup, Riga, 24 April 2015 http://www.europeansources.info/record/meeting-eurogroup-riga-24-april-2015/

Politico, 30.04.15: Greeks mull reforms under eurozone pressure http://www.politico.eu/article/greeks-mull-reforms-eurozone-pressure/

EurActiv, 04.05.15: EU hails 'progress' in Greek debt talks after Varoufakis sidelined http://www.euractiv.com/sections/euro-finance/eu-hails-progress-greek-debt-talks-after-varoufakis-sidelined-314274

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