Greece pays back IMF
July 20, 2015
On Monday, Athens remitted about 2 billion euros ($2.2 billion) to make up for missed debt payments to the IMF.
"I can confirm that Greece today repaid the totality of its arrears to the IMF," spokesman Gerry Rice said in a statement. "Greece is therefore no longer in arrears to the IMF."
Earlier in the day, media reports emerged saying that the near-bankrupt eurozone member-state had begun making overdue payments to two of its main creditors, the IMF and the ECB.
A total of 6.25 billion euros was reportedly on its way to the two lenders, with the required transactions to be completed by the end of business on Monday.
Greece owes 3.5 billion euros to the ECB and national central banks in the euro area for government bonds that have matured, including 0.7 billion euros in interest.
No wiggle room
In addition, the Greek government is also paying back a 500 million-euro loan to its own central bank.
Last week, Greece received a credit worth 7.16 billion euros from the permanent EU rescue fund, the European Financial Stabilization Mechanism (EFSM).
That money has been serving as a bridge loan to keep Greece financially afloat until a new aid package is agreed by eurozone member countries.
hg/cjc (Reuters, dpa)