High-profile Finance Minister Yanis Varoufakis — easily the most recognizable member of the Greek government after Alexis Tsipras — underlined in an interview with the NYTImes that his radical left governments wants to “sit down and rethink the whole support (bailout) program” rather than collecting a remaining €7 billion loan disbursement.

Making specific reference to certain “verbal grenades” the new FinMin has lobbed in the first days after SYRIZA’s victory in the elections, such as calling Greece’s international bailout deals “a toxic mistake,” the US newspaper says the media-savvy Varoufakis seems eager to send a more moderate message.

Talking to NYT, he underlined that SYRIZA’s intention is to negotiate with Greece’s creditors and insisted that the government does not seek a confrontation with them, “whether in Frankfurt, Brussels or on Wall Street.”

“All we’re asking is for is an opportunity to put together a proposal that will minimize the costs of Greece’s loan agreement and give this country a chance to breathe again, after policies that created massive social depravity,” the Greek-Australian economist said.

Noting that the Greek coalition government is under an extreme deadline, NYT figures that “even if the new government does not want to abide by the terms of Greece’s bailout agreements”, the treasury appears need of a remaining €7 billion loan disbursement from that program if Greece is to pay off foreign debts coming due by August.

However, according to Varoufakis, “Greece doesn’t want the €7 billion (in loans).”