MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Obama calls Merkel and Tsipras calling for constructive talks

The president “reiterated that it is in everyone's interest that Greece and its creditors reach a mutually-acceptable agreement”

President Barack Obama on Tuesday analyzed the Greek situation in separate telephone calls to Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras and German Chancellor Angela Merkel, the White House said. Obama began his day with a phone conversation with Merkel, followed by another call to Tsipras.

 The president “reiterated that it is in everyone's interest that Greece and its creditors reach a mutually-acceptable agreement” to allow Greece to remain in the Euro-zone, although the only way to do that is for all parties to agree on a package deal that will put Greece on the road to financial “sustainability”, White House spokesman Josh Earnest said at his daily press conference.

The spokesman acknowledged that the process for achieving that aim “is complicated,” but he said that the United States continues to encourage all parties to participate in “constructive” talks to do so.

Regarding the call to Merkel, the White House said the German leader and Obama discussed the need for “a durable agreement that will allow Greece to resume reforms, return to growth, and achieve debt sustainability within the Euro zone. The leaders noted that their economic teams are monitoring the situation in Greece and remain in close contact.”

Greek government officials cited by the press in Athens said that Tsipras briefed Obama on the proposal that Greece will present to its creditors on Wednesday.

The call between Obama and Tsipras came one day after U.S. Treasury Secretary Jack Lew telephoned the Greek leader to say that Washington wants to see a resumption of dialogue between Athens and the creditors.

Tsipras on Tuesday participated in the extraordinary summit of Euro-group leaders being held in Brussels to deal with the Greek situation.