Greece, Lenders 'Close to Deal' - FM Varoufakis

The gap between fiscal targets proposed by Athens and international creditors is quite narrow, Greek Finance Minister Yanis Varoufakis has said, after a Eurogroup-IMF meeting on Greece's debt talk ended with no results.

Kathimerini's English-language version quoted him as telling, while speaking in Greek at a press conference after the talks, that a "roadmap" of reforms has been agreed with the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD).

Later, switching to English, he warned that Greece was risking too much under the present circumstances, with poverty and hunger rife and investment brought to a standstill.

Varoufakis said cutting pension benefits handed out to low-income pensioners would harm society causing "discontent".

Changes to the pension system are at the heart of a fierce dispute between Greece and international lenders, just days before the end of June when Greece might have to default and leave the Eurozone unless a new deal is reached with the creditors.

Speaking before Varoufakis, IMF Managing Director Christine Lagarde warned talks were only possible if there were "adults in the room".

Earlier on Thursday, Greek PM Alexis Tsipras published an article in German daily Tagesspiegel to fend off what he calls "manipulations" about the country's pension system.

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