Bailout inspectors back in Athens on Tuesday to resume review talks

Bailout inspectors will resume talks with the Greek government on Tuesday to try to complete a review of the country's compliance with agreed reforms that has dragged on for months, the Finance Ministry said on Monday.

Talks had stalled over delays in implementing reforms and disagreements among lenders themselves on whether the International Monetary Fund would fund a third bailout, agreed in mid-2015 and worth up to 86 billion euros.

Inspectors from the European Commission, the eurozone's ESM rescue fund, the IMF and the ECB will meet with government officials to discuss energy reforms, fiscal issues and privatizations, a Finance Ministry official said.

Last Monday, Greece and its official creditors agreed to deal in order to ease the logjam in the talks, which has held up the disbursement of bailout loans.

Greece's central bank governor said on Friday "uncertainty" could hobble economic recovery if the bailout review is not concluded soon, urging both sides to be "flexible".

Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras said last week he expects the review to be concluded by March 20.

The heavily indebted country needs a new tranche of financial aid under its bailout by the third quarter of the year to meet debt repayments.

[Reuters]