(MENAFN- The Peninsula) A deal between Greece and the EU and IMF is closer than ever, Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras said Friday, but must include debt relief in order be a definitive solution to the country's financial crisis.

Tsipras said: "I believe we are now closer than ever to a deal" in a speech to parliament although he called on the EU and IMF to withdraw the "absurd" proposals they made earlier this week and insisted debt relief was needed for a "definitive solution of the Greek crisis".