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"The
first phase of negotiations ends today and the second phase
starts, which really contains the details of drafting (the
deal)," Gerovasili told Skai TV station.
The drafting of the accord would start on Wednesday, she said.
"If the terms of the (EU) summit are met, I think that we will
have a deal by the 18th of this month," she said.
Greece's finance and economic ministers were due to meet
international lenders later on Tuesday to discuss privatizations
and bank recapitalization.
In an interview with Ethnos newspaper on Monday, European
Economic Affairs Commissioner Pierre Moscovici described an
August deal as possible, but said it would be "ambitious",
suggesting that it would take hard work to achieve it.
The bailout, worth up to 86 billion euros ($94.42 billion),
needs to be settled by Aug. 20 if Greece is to pay off debt of
3.5 billion euros to the European Central Bank that matures that
day.
When creditors agreed in July to negotiate a deal aimed at
keeping it afloat and in the euro zone, Greece committed to
implementing major reforms, such as scrapping early retirement,
by the end of October.
Lenders want, for example, an increase in the retirement age to
67 from the nominal 62 that falls significantly depending on the
number of years worked and family status.
On Monday Greece and lenders agreed that any pension reforms
would not affect individuals who retired before the end of June
2015. Talks on Tuesday were shifting onto issues related to the
recapitalization of banks and privatization matters.
"We are determined to pursue a deal, and be tough in
negotiations until the last minute," the Greek official said.
(Reporting By Angeliki Koutantou; Editing by Jeremy Gaunt)
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