Greek FinMin Yanis Varoufakis said the leftist government in Greece could suspend the implementation of some pre-election pledges in order to “build trust” with partners and lenders.

Varoufakis made the eyebrow-raising statement at an economic forum in affluent Lake Como, a quip expected to generate a cascade of reactions back in recession-plagued Greece.

“We can complete the review of the 20th of February agreement … We have a commitment, all of us, to reach an agreement by the 20th of April,” he said.

The statement came a day after a photo spread of the Varoufakis couple – Yanis and beautiful, blonde Danai – in the glitzy French magazine “Paris March”. Backdrops of the Acropolis and Varoufakis posing in front of a piano went viral on Greek-language social media.

Returning to the less elegant world of relations with creditors, Reuters reports that Varoufakis believes a deal between Greece and the “Institutions” on the reforms tabled by the former could be reached by April 12.

Moreover, Varoufakis said it would be “helpful” if the ECB demonstrated the same flexibility vis-à-vis Greece that it showed in the summer of 2012, namely, when it gradually raised the ceiling for the issuance of T-bills.

He also clarified that the cash-strapped Greek government is not searching for economic support from countries outside the eurozone, including Russia.

”Unilaterally violating the rules is an issue, and this government will not do this. To help, however, in evolving the rules is something completely different,” he said.

Never one to disappoint with a media quote, he concluded by referring to “unfair criticism” against countries such Germany and the Netherlands that they’ve paid too little.

“My criticism is the opposite, I consider that they’ve paid too much.”