Athens - XINHUA
Greece intends to meet all financial obligations to its creditors "ad infinitum", Greek Finance Minister Yanis Varoufakis said on Monday.
Varoufakis told Greek media early Monday after a meeting with International Monetary Fund (IMF) chief Christine Lagarde in Washington.
The Greek official had informal talks with Lagarde on the list of reforms Athens proposes in exchange for further aid from international lenders amid media reports of severe obstacles and a looming specter of a Greek default and exit from the eurozone.
The Greek government has strongly dismissed such scenarios. Greek officials recognized that the debt-laden country has limited cash this spring. However, they have assured that loans to the IMF matured on Thursday and in coming weeks will be repaid, and that pensions and salaries to Greek civil servants will also be paid.
In a short statement issued by her office, Lagarde welcomed Athens' assurances on the April 9 repayment of the IMF's 450 million euros (455 U.S. dollars) worth of installment.
The IMF chief also stressed that "effective cooperation is in everyone' s interest" and that the Fund "remains committed to work together with authorities to help Greece return to a sustainable path of growth and employment."