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Merkel says won't discuss new Greek request before referendum: lawmaker
Chancellor Angela Merkel told lawmakers Tuesday that Germany won't enter into new aid negotiations with Athens before Greece's weekend referendum, a parliamentarian said
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hancellor Angela Merkel told lawmakers Tuesday that Germany won't enter into new aid negotiations with Athens before Greece's weekend referendum, a parliamentarian said.
"Before the referendum Germany can't negotiate a new request" for assistance, Merkel was quoted as saying by a lawmaker of her conservative Christian Democrats.
Greece on Tuesday requested a two-year rescue deal with the European Union to save the crisis-hit country, just hours before its international bailout expires.
German Vice Chancellor Sigmar Gabriel of the center-left Social Democrats said new talks could be held once Greece cancels the July 5 referendum, according to one of his party lawmakers.
Eurogroup head Jeroen Dijsselbloem said earlier eurozone finance ministers would hold an emergency conference call at 1700 GMT to discuss Greece's last-minute proposal.
German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble was due to join the teleconference.
Although Schaeuble can join the consultations, any binding decisions on Greek aid would require approval by the German parliament, a Berlin source stressed.
Merkel said earlier Tuesday at a press conference that, looking ahead, the "door is open" to further talks with Athens.
"Of course we won't cut off the lines of communication after midnight -- we wouldn't be the European Union if we did that," she said, after a meeting with Kosovo's visiting Prime Minister Isa Mustafa.
"That means the door is open for talks but that is all I can say." (iik)(++++)
