Greek IMF representative sees Greece winning aid

Greece is likely to have no problems in securing a second aid tranche of a giant European Union and International Monetary Fund bailout, the country's representative at the IMF said on Wednesday.

The debt-choked country agreed last month a 110 billion euro ($147.6 billion) pain-for-gain package with its euro zone partners and the IMF. It received a first payment of 20 billion euros and will get another 9 billion euros in a second instalment if it meets conditions set in the austerity plan.

EU, ECB and IMF officials gave Greece good marks last week, saying it seemed on track with the plan to cut public expenditure, boost revenues and make structural reforms. They will be back in Athens in July to complete their review. [ID:nLDE65G1IC]

"The IMF's findings are positive … it seems there will be no problem with the disbursement of the second tranche," Panagiotis Roumeliotis told a conference in Athens after speaking with the IMF inspectors.

The IMF board would discuss the second aid tranche at a meeting on Sept. 10, he said.

Roumeliotis said Greece would need at least two positive reviews of its economic reforms by its international backers to restore investor confidence.

The government is putting the finishing touches to a tricky reform of its pension system and labour rules, amid growing discontent among the public over the austerity measures and pressure from some ruling party members to soften them.

"There is no alternative solution to the (EU-IMF) plan," Roumeliotis said. "The (only) alternative would be for Greece to leave the euro zone." (