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| Greece crisis: EU bailout talks in Athens delayed | Greece crisis: EU bailout talks in Athens delayed |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Talks between Greece and its European creditors on a third €86bn (£60bn; $94bn) bailout have been delayed due to logistical problems, officials say. | |
| Greek officials had been expected to meet representatives of EU creditors in the Greek capital Athens on Friday. | |
| But a European Commission spokeswoman later said those representatives would arrive "in the coming days". | But a European Commission spokeswoman later said those representatives would arrive "in the coming days". |
| Separately, Greece formally submitted a request for a new loan from the International Monetary Fund (IMF). | |
| In a letter to IMF head Christine Lagarde dated 23 July but released to the public on Friday, Greek Finance Minister Euclid Tsakalotos wrote that Athens was "seeking a new loan". | |
| Greece had initially planned not to ask the IMF for more funds, reports say. | |
| Greek MPs have approved tough new conditions set by the EU lenders for talks on the bailout. | |
| It is unclear when IMF officials will be joining the negotiations. | |
| The Washington-based IMF wants Greece's debt burden to be reduced to a level it considers "sustainable", but it faces resistance from reluctant European partners. | The Washington-based IMF wants Greece's debt burden to be reduced to a level it considers "sustainable", but it faces resistance from reluctant European partners. |
| EU officials said on Friday that there were "logistical issues to solve" before high-level talks with Athens could begin, but that negotiations were taking place at a technical level. | EU officials said on Friday that there were "logistical issues to solve" before high-level talks with Athens could begin, but that negotiations were taking place at a technical level. |
| The Greek team had been expected to meet top representatives from the European Commission, European Central Bank (ECB) and European Stability Mechanism (ESM) - the eurozone's main bailout fund. | The Greek team had been expected to meet top representatives from the European Commission, European Central Bank (ECB) and European Stability Mechanism (ESM) - the eurozone's main bailout fund. |
| Talks on the bailout package are expected to last a month. | Talks on the bailout package are expected to last a month. |
| Tight capital controls, introduced at the end of June, remain in place to prevent a run on Greece's cash-strapped banks. | Tight capital controls, introduced at the end of June, remain in place to prevent a run on Greece's cash-strapped banks. |
| 'Difficult compromise' | 'Difficult compromise' |
| PM Tsipras faced a backlash from MPs in his own left-wing Syriza party, during two parliamentary votes on austerity measures required by the creditors in order for negotiations to start. | PM Tsipras faced a backlash from MPs in his own left-wing Syriza party, during two parliamentary votes on austerity measures required by the creditors in order for negotiations to start. |
| But he secured parliament's backing after a second crucial vote passed early on Thursday. | But he secured parliament's backing after a second crucial vote passed early on Thursday. |
| The reforms debated this week included changes to Greek banking and an overhaul of the judiciary. | The reforms debated this week included changes to Greek banking and an overhaul of the judiciary. |
| Greece debt crisis | Greece debt crisis |
| Last week, Greece passed an initial set of austerity measures, including tax rises and pushing back the retirement age. | Last week, Greece passed an initial set of austerity measures, including tax rises and pushing back the retirement age. |
| Mr Tsipras has said that he is not happy with the measures imposed by creditors but that his government was forced to choose a "difficult compromise" to avoid Greece exiting the eurozone. | Mr Tsipras has said that he is not happy with the measures imposed by creditors but that his government was forced to choose a "difficult compromise" to avoid Greece exiting the eurozone. |
| A decision on more contentious measures - phasing out early retirement and tax rises for farmers - has been pushed back to August. | A decision on more contentious measures - phasing out early retirement and tax rises for farmers - has been pushed back to August. |
| Demonstrations have taken place on the streets of Athens against the bailout deal and trade unions have taken strike action. | Demonstrations have taken place on the streets of Athens against the bailout deal and trade unions have taken strike action. |
| On Wednesday, the ECB increased its cash lifeline to Greek banks by €900m - the second rise in a week. | On Wednesday, the ECB increased its cash lifeline to Greek banks by €900m - the second rise in a week. |
| The IMF confirmed on Monday that Greece had cleared its overdue debt repayments of €2.05bn and was no longer in arrears. | The IMF confirmed on Monday that Greece had cleared its overdue debt repayments of €2.05bn and was no longer in arrears. |
| The repayments, which included €4.2bn to the ECB, were made possible by a short-term EU loan of €7.16bn. | The repayments, which included €4.2bn to the ECB, were made possible by a short-term EU loan of €7.16bn. |
| Greece's next major deadline is 20 August, when it must pay €3.2bn owed to the ECB, followed by a payment of €1.5bn to the IMF in September. | Greece's next major deadline is 20 August, when it must pay €3.2bn owed to the ECB, followed by a payment of €1.5bn to the IMF in September. |