Greek talks stall over 'red lines' as country fights to remain in eurozone

Reports claimed the government was prepared to reduce at least three different VAT rates to one, and limit exemptions. Prime minister Alexis Tsipras had opposed the move, claiming that the change would hit poorer people. The country will also press-on with privatisations it had also previously vowed to block, according to reports.

However, Syriza has said that demands by creditors to reverse an increase in the minimum wage and cut pensions remain "red lines" that the leftist leadership is unwilling to cross...

Mr Sakellaridis said that failure to reach an "honest compromise" with creditors would most likely lead to a referendum...

Greece is due to repay €200m to the IMF on Wednesday and a further €750m later this month. Protesters, including Greek finance minister Yanis Varoufakis took to the streets last week to protest against the repeated rounds of austerity that have been imposed on Athens by Brussels.

Mr Varoufakis denied reports that he had been sidelined by Athens following a meeting of eurozone finance ministers last month which he described as "intense".

Mr Varoufakis claimed "nothing had changed" and said he was still "toiling for an agreement" that would satisfy Greece, where the unemployment rate stands at 25pc...

While Angela Merkel's government is ruling out further war reparations for Greece, saying the matter was closed by Europe's acceptance of the treaty that reunified East and West Germany in 1990 at the end of the Cold War, Mr Gauck said Germany should explore compensation for war crimes committed by German soldiers during the war...

The comments were welcomed by Greek parliament president Zoi Konstantopoulou, who highlighted that this was the first time the issue had been raised in such an official way.

Greece signals concessions in crunch talks with lenders
http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/04/30/us-eurozone-greece-idUSKBN0NL0X320150430

> Greece’s government signaled the biggest concessions so far as talks with lenders on a cash-for-reforms package started in earnest on Thursday, but tried to assure leftist supporters it had not abandoned its anti-austerity principles.

Reports claimed the government was prepared to reduce at least three different VAT rates to one, and limit exemptions... will also press-on with privatisations it had also previously vowed to block... Protesters, including Greek finance minister Yanis Varoufakis took to the streets last week to protest against the repeated rounds of austerity...

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