Lagrade, Tsakalotos discuss debt relief, reforms

The head of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Christine Lagarde, and Finance Minister Euclid Tsakalotos discussed debt relief for Greece and speeding up reforms in a meeting on the sidelines of the fund's spring meeting in Washington on Saturday.

"I had a productive meeting today with Greece's Finance Minister Euclid Tsakalotos and his team," Lagarde said in an official statement after the meeting. 

"We discussed the importance of bringing discussions on debt to an early conclusion and accelerating implementation of program policies, both of which are critical for boosting economic prospects and making IMF financing available."

On Greece's side, finance ministry officials expressed optimism that a comprehensive deal will be achieved by June 21, when the eurozone's finance ministers will meet, according to state-run ANA-MPA news agency.