Greece Has Money to Repay IMF Loan Tranche On Time – Finance Ministry

Greece has the money to meet a nearly $500-million interest payment to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) on April 9, in accordance with the bailout agreement, Deputy Finance Minister of the debt-ridden country said Friday.

ATHENS (Sputnik) — The deputy finance minister added that Athens was looking to secure the country's liquidity indefinitely.

On Thursday it was reported that Greece had explained to its creditors that it would run out of money by the April 9 deadline.

"As the Ministry of Finance we are interested in repaying our obligations on time… As of now everything is fine. Everything that is due to be repaid and planned will be done," Dimitris Mardas told the Antenna television channel.

Greece's total debt to the troika of international creditors, comprising the European Union, the European Central Bank and the IMF, stands at around $270 billion.

Greece is required to repay another $220 million to the IMF on May 1, with the next $840-million tranche scheduled for May 12.

In February, the country's new left-wing government promised to pursue economic reforms after Greece and Eurozone finance ministers agreed to extend the bailout deal for four months.