Creditors say talks with gov't focused on fiscal situation, NPLs

The government and its creditors discussed the country's fiscal situation and outlook and the implementation of the strategy to reduce the banks' non-performing loans in their first meeting after the completion of Greece's rescue packages last August, the institutions said in a joint statement on Friday.

The inspection of the mission chiefs ended on Friday, after it emerged that creditors had not given the green light to the government to stop a new round of planned pension cuts next year.

The finance ministry announced earlier that the central government achieved a primary budget surplus of 3.14 billion euros in the first eight months of the year, well above target, thanks to higher revenues and lower spending.

The full statement follows below:

"Staff from the European Commission, in liaison with staff from the European Central Bank and the...

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