by Maria Spiliopoulou
ATHENS, March 22 (Xinhua) -- German Vice Chancellor and Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel on Wednesday called for more cooperation between all sides to conclude in April the second review of Greece's third bailout.
"We don't want to have a story with no ending. We all have to work so that we can reach a solution in April. What remains ahead are difficult decisions," the German official said at the start of a meeting with Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras in Athens, according to Greek national news agency AMNA.
According to the initial schedule agreed by Greece and its international lenders in the summer of 2015, the second assessment of the current bailout should have closed in February 2016.
Due to differences regarding IMF's role in the third program and the mix of reforms and austerity measures Athens will accept in exchange of further aid, talks have dragged on.
Gabriel's visit to the Greek capital following Monday's latest inconclusive Eurogroup meeting in Brussels has been perceived by the Greek government as a message of support regarding the ongoing bailout review negotiations and the migrant crisis.
On Thursday, the German official will also have talks with Greek President Prokopis Pavlopoulos and Foreign Minister Nikos Kotzias.
The dilemma is whether European Union countries will regain the social contract and social acquis or whether they will remain stuck in racist slogans, Tsipras said welcoming Gabriel to his office.
"Greece chooses the first category and is determined to work for it," he said.
