Greece presents "realistic plan" to exit debt crisis: PM

Greece has presented a "realistic plan" to exit the debt crisis to lenders and now awaits European leadership's decision on the dilemma between moving forward in unity or devide the continent, Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras said on Tuesday.

As Greek government sources were dismissing media reports that Athens received an ultimatum to accept a draft agreement proposal finalized during a meeting of European leaders and representatives of creditors in Berlin on Monday, Tsipras gave his Leftist government's response during a visit to the Ministry of Education in Athens.

"The Greek government negotiates with a plan and a strategy... We have submitted specific proposals and made concessions... We have tabled a realistic plan to exit the crisis," Tsipras said, before throwing the ball back to the lenders' court.

"Now the decision on the dilemma of whether we adapt to realism and exit the crisis or face the prospect of the division of Europe lies with Europe's leadership," Tsipras stressed.

The Greek leader concluded expressing optimism over the outcome, as time was pressing.

On Friday June 5 Greece needs to repay the next loan installment to International Monetary Fund and more installments by July. Greek officials have said that Athens will not manage it without international financing.

But after four months of tough negotiations with creditors over the needed reforms in return of cash, the gap between the interlocutors regarding key issues has not closed and fears of an imminent credit event and Grexit have fueled.

On Monday night German Chancellor Angela Merkel hosted French President Francois Hollande, IMF Managing Director Christine Lagarde, European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker and European Central Bank head Mario Draghi to discuss developments on the Greek issue. The talks ended with a call for stepped up efforts to reach a compromise agreement. Endit