Greece's Varoufakis says certain of reaching deal over debt crisis

[MADRID] Greek Finance Minister Yanis Varoufakis said on Friday he was certain Greece would reach an agreement with its creditors on a new financing program that replaces the one that expires in June, though not before next Monday's eurogroup meeting.

Speaking to journalists after a meeting with his Spanish counterpart Luis de Guindos, Varoufakis said the meeting of euro zone finance ministers in Brussels on Monday, while critical, would not be the final step to resolve the crisis.

"The meeting will be an important link, we hope, towards the period that will follow the completion of the current loan agreement with Greece towards the post-June 2015 era which we're sure is going to mark a period of recovery and the return of Greece to growth within a consolidated euro zone," he said.

"We spoke about technical issues in a manner that gives you plenty of hope that we are going to be able to announce the process that lead to the end of the crisis," he added.

REUTERS