Greece has yet to reach a key agreement with its international lenders on a range of "thorny issues," including cuts in the minimum wage and the recapitalisation of banks, dpa quoted a Greek government spokesman as saying on Thursday. Any agreement with the European Commission, the European Central Bank (ECB) and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) "will not be without pain and sacrifice," Pantelis Kapsis told Greek broadcaster MEGA. Greece and its international lenders are believed to be still days away from wrapping up talks on a second 130-billion-euro (171-billion-dollar) bailout needed by the country to avert defaulting on its debt next month. Officials have said that discussions on the details of the bailout must be concluded before a debt swap deal with private bondholders can also be announced. Europe and the IMF have criticised Athens for falling behind on its reforms plans and have demanded new measures. They include lowering its minimum wage rate and cutting holiday bonuses in the private sector. -- SPA
