US Treasury Secretary to meet with Tsipras and Tsakalotos

US official underscores the key role Greece plays as a stabilising force in region

US Treasury Secretary Jack Lew is scheduled to meet Greek PM Alexis Tsipras at Maximos Mansion, Thursday  at 2pm during his official visit in Greece. Lew will meet with Greek Finance Minster Euclid Tsakalotos and Minister for Economy George Chouliarakis earlier Thursday and is expected to push for a swift completion of the second review of the 3rd Greek bailout program and the need for reforms in the economy. The agenda of talks will include the Greek economy and the developments in neighbouring Turkey. In an interview to newspaper Financial Times, the American politician revealed his intentions about Greece underlining that a form of debt relief was imperative for the country, especially in light of the current political turmoil in Turkey . The US believes Greece acts as a stabilising pillar in the wider region. ‘I hoped (the recent unrest) would change the climate in which talks on a debt relief were conducted-and since it is the right thing to do, and because Greece is of geopolitical importance-the timing is right to reinforce fiscal structures in Greece’, he said. Lew underlined that even before the political turmoil in Turkey broke out Greece had shown its central role as a stabilising factor in the region by its stance on the refugee crisis. Tsipras is expected to reiterate the common goal of the US and Greece for the need to reduce the debt and reassure Lew on the progress of economic reforms in Greece.