Athens

Hours before a highly-anticipated meeting in Brussels over the Greek matter, conflicting messages have been circulated by two of the main protagonists involved.

Angela Merkel and Francois Hollande appear to have made conflicting statements.

The Citizens’ Protection Ministry said on Thursday that “neighborhood policemen” would be on the beat in Athens and Thessaloniki from Monday.

Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras on Thursday reportedly defended his new government's insistence on tabling a draft bill containing measures to alleviate what he calls a "humanitarian crisis" in the country.

The "humanitarian crisis" leitmotif was a recurring theme in the radical leftist party's pre-election campaign.

Germany?s Minister for European Affairs said Thursday Berlin may increase its contribution to a German-Greek fund, potentially paving the way for a compromise to Athens demanding World War II reparations.

By Harry van Versendaal

A large number of Greeks have limited awareness of the Holocaust or even hold anti-Semitic views, according to a new survey which traces the roots of attitudes to a strong sense of victimization among the public.

Greece has enough cash to repay a last loan instalment to the International Monetary Fund on schedule on Friday, a government official said in Brussels, where Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras was attending an EU summit.

The EU Summit started at approximately 16.00 (Athens time) in Brussels.

Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras, accompanied by the two new Alternate Foreign Ministers, Nikos Chountis and Euclid Tsakalotos, has his work cut out for him as he will try to persuade the European leaders to agree to a political solution for Greece.

Greek demands for billions of euros in reparations for the brutal Nazi occupation in World War Two may be falling on deaf ears in the German government, but some legal experts say Athens has grounds for a case.

A German couple visiting Greece were hailed as heroes by the local press Wednesday after paying 875 euros ($945) to a town hall in what they said were World War II reparations.

Greek banks saw deposit outflows of about 300 million euros on Wednesday, the highest in a single day since a February deal with the eurozone that staved off a banking collapse, two senior Greek bankers familiar with the matter said on Thursday.