Bailout talks back in Athens, as tough conditions approved

ATHENS, Greece (AP) — Bailout negotiators are due to return to Athens to start talks on a massive new rescue package after Greece’s parliament approved tough new conditions set by lenders.

Officials in Athens and at the European Union said negotiators are expected to start arriving Friday, marking the first time high-level talks will be held in the Greek capital since Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras’ left-wing government assumed power in late January.

The news came hours after parliament approved a second round of reforms Greece’s European creditors had demanded before the negotiations could start. Tsipras narrowly survived an anti-austerity revolt within his own party.

It was the final hurdle the country had to clear before talks can start over a third bailout worth around 85 billion euros ($93 billion).

Without the money, Greece would be unable to pay the debts due over the coming three years and would likely be forced to leave the euro, Europe’s shared currency.

The past week, parliament approved two rounds of conditions — the first introducing sweeping sales tax increases and the second concerning trial and banking reform.

Tsipras relied on opposition party support to push the measures through parliament.

“We have chosen a compromise that forces us to implement a program in which we do not believe, and we will implement it because the alternatives are tough,” Tsipras said. “We are summoned today to legislate under a state of emergency.”

Both sides hope discussions will conclude by Aug. 20, when Greece has a payment of a little more than 3 billion euros ($3.2 billion) due to the European Central Bank.

A government official in Athens, who asked not to be identified because negotiations had not formally started, said Greece was determined to resist any further conditions being set for the third bailout.

Greece has committed to reducing state spending on pensions, but says it need more time to draw up measures that spare low-income retirees further hardship. Major pension changes were not included in either round of reforms approved by parliament.

Bailout negotiators from the European Commission, European Central Bank, and International Monetary Fund — once commonly referred to as the “Troika” — were criticized by the Tsipras government as having trampled on the country’s national dignity and sovereign rights.

Footage of the stone-faced inspectors entering the Finance Ministry was shown on live television during their visits.

The Greek government earlier this year insisted the negotiations be moved to Belgian capital, renamed negotiators the “Brussels Group,” and authorized them to speak to Greek negotiators, not Cabinet ministers.

Following the two parliamentary votes required by creditors, the Greek government hopes that the economy will stabilize following a crisis-ridden period that’s seen strict capital controls imposed amid fears over the country’s future in the euro.

Banks reopened Monday after being shuttered for more than three weeks, albeit for limited transactions, as daily withdrawals at ATMs are still limited to 60 euros ($65) per account holder.

Dissent within Tsipras’ Syriza party twice came close to toppling the government, and has fuelled speculation of an earlier-than-expected general election in fall.

But party critics insisted they continued to back Tsipras while disagreeing with a third bailout.

“Diversity is the strength of our party, not its weakness,” former minister and outspoken dissenter Panagiotis Lafazanis said.

___

Associated Press Writers Raf Casert in Brussels and Menelaos Hadjicostis in Athens contributed to this report.

Copyright © The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.