Euclid Tsakalotos

Finance Minister Euclid Tsakalotos said that SYRIZA and New Democracy should cooperate and forge a common front toward creditors in demanding a reduction of the high, 3.5 percent of GDP primary surplus target, the results of which he said fuel the rise of the far right.

Greece's conservative opposition party said on Thursday it was pleased to hear ruling SYRIZA will support New Democracy's plan to seek a lower primary surplus target if elected in government late this year.

Greek Finance Minister Euclid Tsakalotos said the government will implement the reforms required by its post-bailout agreement by March 11 so that the country will be able to receive aid from its creditors, according to an interview with CNBC on Wednesday.

The Finance Ministry is putting off the issue of a five-year bond, which is all set in technical terms, until the domestic political dust settles and the effort to reduce the credit sector's bad-loan stock results in a breakthrough.

Standard & Poor's rating agency affirmed on Friday Greece's credit rating at B+, with a positive outlook, as the market anticipates the first bond issue by Greece after almost a year.

Archaeologists have raised the alarm over the prospect that some of the country's most important monuments, such as the Knossos Palace complex on the island of Crete and the Venetian Walls of its capital Iraklio have not been exempted from inclusion in the Hellenic Corporation of Assets and Participations (EESYP).

Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras will meet with European Commissioner for Economic Affairs Pierre Moscovici at 2.45 p.m. at Maximos Mansion, his office said.

Moscovici is expected to convey to Athens the growing concern in Brussels, as Greece's creditors see no progress in the implementation of the country's post-bailout commitments.

European Economic Affairs Commissioner Pierre Moscovici is due in Athens on Wednesday where he will meet with government ministers and the prime minister.

Moscovici will first see President Prokopis Pavlopoulos and then meet with Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras at Maximos Mansion between 14:45 and 15:30. Their meeting will be followed by brief statements to the press.

With its benchmark bond yield stuck between 4.3 and 4.4 percent, Greece's cost of borrowing continues to be high, Citigroup warned in a note to clients, following statements by Finance Minister Euclid Tsakalotos earlier this week about drawing 7 billion euros from the markets.

Bank of Greece Governor Yannis Stournaras on Wednesday issued an stern response to Finance Minister Euclid Tsakalotos regarding the role of the central bank and its chief.