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Greek PM Samaras holds key Paris talks on bailout Francois Hollande piles pressure on Greek PM Samaras
(about 2 hours later)
Greek Prime Minister Antonis Samaras is expected to repeat his plea for more time to implement reforms when he meets French President Francois Hollande. French President Francois Hollande has urged Greece to prove it can pass reforms demanded by international creditors, after talks with Greek leader Antonis Samaras.
The Paris meeting comes a day after Mr Samaras asked for his country to be given "breathing space" during talks with German Chancellor Angela Merkel. Mr Samaras has been appealing for more time to introduce the reforms.
Mrs Merkel said she wanted Athens to remain in the eurozone but expected it to stick to the tough bailout terms. But Mr Hollande said no further decision could be taken until European ministers consider a major report on Greece's finances, due in September.
The French leader is now likely to echo that message, correspondents say. Donors including the EU insist Greece has to make major spending cuts.
Mrs Merkel and Mr Hollande met on Thursday to discuss Greece and urged Athens to stick with the tough reforms. These are needed if Greece is to secure the next tranche of its bailout.
On Greece, the two leaders seem to be on the same page, the BBC's Mark Lowen in Athens reports. The BBC's Mark Lowen in Athens says the Greek government is under pressure to win concessions from Europe to placate the tired nation and lessen the likelihood of a destabilising period of social unrest.
Troika report Mr Samaras is seeking an extension of up to two years for the necessary reforms, in order to provide Greece with the growth needed to improve its public finances.
In Paris, Mr Samaras is expected to call for more time to reduce the deficit, given the worse-than-expected recession and months lost this year due to elections, our correspondent says. In talks with German Chancellor Angela Merkel earlier this week, he was told that the decision would depend on a report from the so-called troika - the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the European Central Bank (ECB) and the European Commission.
He adds that the Greek government is under pressure to win a concession from Europe so as to placate this tired nation and lessen the likelihood of a destabilising period of social unrest. Mr Hollande also said Europe needed to consider the report before it could make any further decisions on Greece.
After Friday's talks with Mrs Merkel in Berlin, Mr Samaras said: "Greece will stick to its commitments and fulfil its obligations. In fact, this is already happening. He said decisions on whether to grant Greece more time should be taken when European finance ministers meet in early October.
"We're not asking for more money," he said, adding that Greece needed "time to breathe". "We've been facing this question for two and a half years, there's no time to lose, there are commitments to reaffirm on both sides, decisions to take, and the sooner the better," he said.
The International Monetary Fund (IMF), the European Central Bank (ECB) and the European Commission - the group of donor bodies known collectively as the "troika" - are examining whether Greece is making sufficient progress towards reforming its public finances. Greece's continued access to the bailout packages depends on a favourable report from the troika.
Greece's continued access to the bailout packages depends on a favourable report from the trio, and an official report is due to be released next month. Athens is trying to finalise a package of 11.5bn euros ($14.4bn; £9.1bn) of spending cuts over the next two years.
Euro bailout
Greece is currently trying to finalise a package of 11.5bn euros ($14.4bn; £9.1bn) of spending cuts over the next two years.
It is also being asked to put in place economic and structural reforms, including changes to the labour market and a renewed privatisation drive.It is also being asked to put in place economic and structural reforms, including changes to the labour market and a renewed privatisation drive.
The measures are needed to qualify for the next 33.5bn-euro instalment of its second 130bn-euro bailout.The measures are needed to qualify for the next 33.5bn-euro instalment of its second 130bn-euro bailout.
Greece needs the funds to make repayments on its debt burden. A default could result in the country leaving the euro.Greece needs the funds to make repayments on its debt burden. A default could result in the country leaving the euro.
Mr Samaras is seeking an extension of up to two years for the necessary reforms, in order to provide Greece with the growth needed to improve its public finances.