Merkel: Door Remains Open for Greek Bailout Talks Beyond Deadline

Europe will keep the door open for talks with Greece beyond Tuesday midnight’s deadline for the current bailout program, but a last-minute deal to save Athens is ruled out, German Chancellor Angela Merkel told reporters.

BERLIN (Sputnik) — Asked whether there was still time before midnight to clinch an agreement with Greece, Merkel said:

"Tonight, exactly at 12:00 p.m. Central European Time [22:00 GMT], the program runs out. And I’m aware of no strong indications to the contrary."

She added that Brussels was not going to snap the "thread of talks" with Greece when a second bailout arrangement expires. "The door stays open," she said to journalists in Berlin.

Merkel commented on the Greek crisis just hours before the Greek government is due to repay a $1.7-billion loan to the International Monetary Fund or default.

On Wednesday, the German chancellor, finance and economic ministers will debate the Greek situation at a parliamentary meeting in Berlin.

On Saturday, eurozone finance ministers refused to extend the financial lifeline to Greece past June 30, after Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras called a Sunday referendum on bailout terms set forth by the international creditors.

If Greece defaults on its debts to European money lenders it may be forced to leave the single currency and possibly the European Union.