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Greeks heading to Brussels for crucial talks

Greeks heading to Brussels for crucial talks

By ASSOCIATED PRESS

Greece's Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras arrives for a meeting as his lawmakers of Syriza party applaud him at the Greek Parliament in Athens, Friday, July 10, 2015. Tsipras will seek backing for a harsh new austerity package from his party Friday to keep his country in the euro u2014 less than a week after urging Greeks to reject milder cuts in a referendum. AP

BRUSSELS: Greek government negotiators headed into weekend talks with their international creditors with the backing of their parliament and in the knowledge that their reform plan held enough concessions to be a basis for negotiations. The Greek parliament early Saturday passed the bailout proposals package with 251 votes in favor and 32 against. In Brussels, a source close to the negotiations said the international creditors saw the Greek package 'under certain conditions ... as a basis for discussion' at Saturday's meeting of the 19 eurozone finance ministers. The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the talks, says creditors were still looking stronger commitments, tighter deadlines and more urgent action on several issues highlighted in the Greek proposals.