Greek PM goes to Moscow amid raised eyebrows in Europe

"We are equal partners in the European Union. While sticking to its rules, we, too, have the right to reinforce our relations with any third country, as long as this is in the interest of our country," Nikos Kotzias, the Greek foreign minister, stated in February, one month after the new leftist government of Syriza was elected to power. 

Trying to keep the country afloat against a constant pressure from its creditors - the European Union, the European Central Bank and the International Monetary Fund - the government of Syriza-Anel, appears squeezed and desperate to find a solution. Some differences of opinion have started to surface inside Syriza over the next step in relations with Europe: should Greece go for a clash or an "honorable compromise" and try to win approval from its creditors for a minimum list of its election promises? And as new Prime Minister Alexi Tsipras, who has proved the biggest asset of the government retaining one of the highest popularity ratings achieved by any of his predecessors, the scenario of a new election asking for a renewed mandate, is again being discussed among the ultimate options.

According to the worst predictions - which come mainly from analyses in the European press - this week may be the week that Greece runs out of money. The reason being that while the Europeans have not approved the list of reforms proposed by the new Greek government, Greece needs to pay an installment of almost half a million euros to its third creditor, the IMF. Although the Greek government is denying any cash flow problem and assures that it will service all its commitments to its creditors, a call for an urgent meeting by Greek Economy Minister Yianis Varoufakis to the head of the IMF last night in the United States may provide...