Greek government

 Timing will depend on the spread between Greek and Portuguese yields

By Sotiris Nikas

The government is moving ahead with its plan for emancipation from its international creditors through the issue of new sovereign debt, with the Finance Ministry speeding up its efforts so that the bonds can be successfully issued at the end of April.

Europe's top human rights official has called on the Greek government to drop plans to include a clause in a draft immigration law that would allow for the deportation of migrants deemed to have made false claims of abuse by law enforcement officials.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel is expected to pay an official visit to Greece before Easter (April 20), sources have told Kathimerini.

A date for the trip has not yet been set but Merkel is expected to show her support for Greece’s adjustment efforts in the wake of its next bailout tranche being approved at an informal Eurogroup in Athens on April 1.

Standard & Poor's affirmed Greece's sovereign credit rating on Friday and gave it a stable outlook, saying it believed the country's economy was gradually rebalancing.

After reaching an agreement with the troika on Tuesday, the Greek government now has to prepare legislation for the reforms it agreed with its lenders in the hope that the disbursement of at least 10 billion euros in loans will be approved at an informal Eurogroup meeting due to take place in Athens on April 1.

Prime Minister Antonis Samaras on Tuesday insisted that no new austerity measures will be required as part of a deal reached earlier in the day between the Greek government and troika inspectors following seven months of tough negotiations.

"Today a long period of tribulations has ended, and a new beginning is being made," Samaras said.

By Antonis Galanopoulos, Marcus Bensasson & Nikos Chrysoloras

Greece will probably sell bonds for the first time in four years before May as the nation seeks to rebuild its finances following an international bailout, Infrastructure Minister Michalis Chrysochoidis said.

Finance Minister Yannis Stournaras has refused to commit on the question of whether Greece and the troika will conclude their talks on Monday after lengthy discussions over the weekend.

“I don’t know [if talks will conclude today],” said Stournaras after he left talks with Prime Minister Antonis Samaras at lunchtime on Monday.

Health Minister Adonis Georgiadis has blamed SYRIZA supporters for heckling him during a tension-filled even at Imperial College in London.

Speaking on Monday morning, after his appearance at the university over the weekend, Georgiadis dismissed his critics as a small group of leftists amid a larger audience.

Greek government officials are to continue talks with troika representatives on Monday after failing to reach an agreement on a range of issues over the weekend.