Reforms must pass, says FinMin

Greece will have to push through Parliament reforms that are years? overdue within the next fortnight, Finance Minister Evangelos Venizelos said late on Monday after effectively wrapping up talks with a team of representatives for Greece?s creditors ? the European Commission, European Central Bank and International Monetary Fund, collectively known as the troika.

?Within the next 15 days, things that have not been done for years will have to be completed,? Venizelos said, speaking on Mega television, adding that his talks with the troika team have been completed, except for a ?few technical details,? which were to be discussed on Tuesday.

?The passing of the reform bill is a precondition for the disbursement of the sixth loan installment to Greece,? Venizelos said in reference to the 8-billion-euro tranche of bailout funds, which the troika has delayed releasing until it receives assurances that the Greek government will plough ahead with austerity measures agreed upon in a July 21 European Union summit in Brussels.

The troika representatives are due to release a statement on Greece?s progress later on Tuesday.