ATHENS, Greece • Greece was again left hanging on Tuesday after eurozone finance ministers postponed for a second time the approval of a new rescue package, warning Athens that it had not yet convinced them it would respect bailout terms.
Eurozone finance ministers were expected to approve about $170 billion in aid at a special meeting in Brussels today after having put off the decision last week.
But Luxembourg Prime Minister Jean-Claude Juncker, who chairs the so-called Eurogroup panel, said the meeting had been called off and would be replaced by a conference call to discuss "outstanding issues."
Juncker said he had "not yet" received "the required political assurances from the leaders of the Greek coalition parties" that they would stick to the bailout terms after elections in April.
Greek explanations on how to fill a "fiscal gap" of about $525 million — another prerequisite for the bailout — were also missing, the Eurogroup president said.
Greece has fulfilled only one of three Eurogroup conditions set last week: the approval by the parliament on Sunday of a $3.9 billion austerity package, despite political tension and violent street protests.
But Juncker's move indicated that the Eurogroup was willing to keep Athens on the brink of bankruptcy to force compliance with all the bailout terms.
Greece needs the money by March 20, when it will have to meet a $19 billion bond repayment.


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