(VOVworld) - Berlin would do anything not to let Greece go bankrupt, German Chancellor Angela Merkel told the press on Friday after meeting with Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras on the sidelines of EU meeting on refugees in Brussels. Merkel said both leaders had constructive discussions and reiterated Germany’s view of not letting Greece go bankrupt under any circumstances.

Chancellor Merkel and Greek prime minister Alexis Tsipras Photo:DPA

Euro zone finance ministers reached no agreements at a Friday meeting in Riga, Latvia, regarding following steps to settle the Greek debt crisis. Euro-group President Jeroen Dijsselbloem said Athens must speed up negotiations on a list of reforms in order to secure the next tranche of funds from its main creditors, the European Union, the European Central Bank, and the International Monetary Fund, totaling 7.2 billion euros.

On Saturday, Greece's parliament adopted a controversial decree ordering all public institutions to hand over their cash reserves to the central bank to help Athens meet its financial obligations. The decree, which was adopted by 156 votes in favor and 104 against, says the reserves will be used to cover "the state's urgent needs, which amount to three billion euros over the next 15 days".