Greece eyes deal at June 15 meeting, gov’t spokesman says

Government spokesman Dimitris Tzanakopoulos said Thursday he was confident Greece will get a debt deal at the June 15 eurozone financial ministers’ meeting in Luxembourg, adding he expected the debt-hit country to be able to tap the markets for funds after the current bailout program ends in August 2018.

“On June 15 there will be an agreement that will satisfy all sides,” Tzanakopoulos told the Star television network while dismissing the possibility of early elections.

The spokesman said Greece was targeting a trial return to capital markets.

“We need to be prepared because after August 2018 we must be able to fully refinance our debt from markets,” he said.

The country’s lenders failed to reach a deal on debt relief during seven hours of talks on Monday night, leaving the eurozone locked in a race to finish negotiations before Athens faces crippling debt repayments in July.