by Magda Panoutsopoulou
ATHENS, Greece
Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras said an agreement with creditors would be concluded soon - an agreement is already being drafted.
Tsipras expressed his optimism late on Wednesday, stating that that there will soon be a positive result in the ongoing negotiations between Greece and its institutional creditors -- the International Monetary Fund, the European Central Bank, and the EU.
Reacting to Tsipras' statement, European Commission Vice President Valdis Dombrovskis told the press late on Wednesday that a staff-level agreement was indeed being drafted, but that a formal agreement was not yet under discussion.
Tsipras added that the government has secured safe conditions and stability for the Greek economy, despite the conflicting views expressed by the institutions.
"We’re on the final stretch; we’re close to a deal. This agreement will be positive for the Greek economy…it will redistribute weights and I believe we will be able to present more details soon,” he stated, speaking to reporters after a meeting with ministers of the political negotiation group at the finance ministry.
Tsipras stated that there is no risk for wages, pensions, and banks or for bank deposits and called on Greeks to “shut their ears” because, as he said, there might be people who will try to create a false sense of danger.
"Today and tomorrow wages and pensions will be paid in time, while for the past four months, some people keep arguing through alarmist and fake reports that the Greek economy is collapsing.”
Regarding the negotiations, the premier noted there are differences among the country’s creditors,”We are not alone in this, we are dealing with three different institutions which often have opposing views," he stated and added that there are also different policy considerations among the other euro zone countries.
"I want to reassure the Greek people that we’re negotiating by securing in advance conditions of security and stability for the Greek economy. I’m certain we will soon have positive results,” he added.
Meanwhile earlier the same day, SYRIZA parliamentary spokesman Thanassis Petrakos said "Yes" to an agreement with the creditors, but "no" to any agreement, and added that only the threat of default had accelerated the negotiations. Greece must make a €300 million ($327.2 million) payment to the IMF on June 5.
He underlined that "we are working so that a mutually beneficial agreement is reached. We want an agreement because it is in the interest of all sides, but we are not willing to sign just any agreement as was made clear at the last meeting of SYRIZA''s central committee."
Finance Minister Yanis Varoufakis upon his arrival at the Ministry of Finance earlier the same day pointed out to the press that the government has successfully maintained key aspects of its position in the negotiations.
"The only reason why the issue of a tax on bank transactions has not been raised is our strong opposition and my personal opposition," he said.
