In the midst of a tough negotiation

“We are at a crucial point of the negotiation, crucial and sensitive," Tsipras told Papoulias adding that the government submits its proposals and hopes it can overcome this obstacle which will give the opportunity to move forward.

“We are in the middle of a substantial and tough negotiation; nothing unexpected has happened,” he said.

“We had anticipated everything, the hard stance and the difficulties. Perhaps we hadn’t anticipated the exaltation that prevails in the country, the hope and the patriotic pride that helps us a lot,” he noted added that there are another two important factors, the rallies across Europe supporting Greece and the positive stance to the country’s demands through the contacts with foreign leaders.

“We don’t have an isolation front before us,” he said.

Papoulias responded that he acknowledges the difficulties and noted: “Europe is going through a historical period, even more historical than 1848, the great European revolution.”

He also expressed the hope that the government succeed in its effort as “it is very important for Greece, people await for this, their hope and expectation is high and I hope that everything will go well.”