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The
spokeswoman said Merkel and Tsipras will read out statements
before the meeting, which will not be followed by a news
conference.
"The themes are the (peace) negotiations in Cyprus, the refugee
situation, the relations between the EU and Turkey, and on the
margins also naturally Greece's economic and financial
situation," Ulrike Demmer told a regular government news
conference.
Heavily indebted Greece, which is on its third international
bailout since an economic crisis began in 2010, is at odds with
lenders over fiscal targets and the scope of reforms required to
conclude its latest review on bailout progress.
Asked if German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble, blamed by
many in Greece for imposing harsh austerity measures on their
country, would also meet Tsipras, Demmer said: "The meeting will
be between Mr. Tsipras and the chancellor."
Greece, which was last week granted short-term debt relief by
its euro zone partners, hopes that a deal with its lenders could
allow its inclusion in the European Central Bank's asset
purchase program by the spring of 2017. That would open the door
for the country to then test markets with a debt issue later in
the year.
Greek finance minister Euclid Tsakalotos told Reuters on Monday
that Athens wants to end the standoff with lenders through
'honest compromise', indicating a willingness to give ground on
reform. But he warned that inflexibility on their part could
inflame anti-establishment sentiment in Europe.
The International Monetary Fund, which has said Greece's debt is
unsustainable, will decide on its participation in the bailout
program once a second review of its economic progress is
completed by lenders.
(Reporting by Gernot Heller; Writing by Joseph Nasr; Editing by
Catherine Evans)
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