(1 May 2010)
1. Wide exterior of Elysee palace
2. Car bringing French Prime Minister Francois Fillon arriving, Fillon getting out of the car and entering Elysee palace
3. French Finance Minister Christine Lagarde getting out of her car and entering Elysee
4. Close of French and European Union flags outside
5. Lagarde coming out of Elysee palace and walking towards journalists
6. SOUNDBITE: (French) Christine Lagarde, French Finance Minister
"I have high hopes that by the end of the weekend an agreement can be reached, and in particular before the beginning of the Eurogroup meeting which will start tomorrow at 4pm in Brussels, where we can examine the terms of an agreement."
7. Wide of Christine Lagarde talking to journalists
8. SOUNDBITE: (English) Christine Lagarde, French Finance Minister
"We noted the negotiations in progress between the Commission, the IMF and the Greek government. Clearly there is good progress on the way and I certainly hope that it will be conclusive before the end of the weekend. I will attend the Eurogroup meeting tomorrow in Brussels at 4 o'clock, and we will be able to review the terms and conditions on both sides, in other words the measures accepted by the Greek government which is due to review the plan tomorrow, and the proposals to support Greece from a financial point of view. I remind you that those would be in the form of bilateral loans extended by each member of the Eurogroup to Greece for a period of three years."
9. Mid of car with Christine Lagarde leaving
STORYLINE:
France's finance minister said on Saturday that she was confident that negotiations for a Greek rescue package of up to 120 billion euros (159 billion US dollars) over three years would be concluded this weekend.
Speaking after a meeting of government ministers with French President Nicolas Sarkozy, Christine Lagarde said eurozone heads of state would meet to finalise the plan at a meeting of eurozone finance ministers on Sunday in Brussels.
Lagarde added that during the discussions "we will be able to review the terms and conditions on both sides," referring to a three-year set of commitments to be accepted by the Greek government as well as the financial support being provided by Greece's European partners.
Greece says it needs a bailout in order to pay 8.5 billion euros (11.32 billion US dollars) in bonds due on May 19.
Fears that Germany might hold up its share of the overall 45 billion euro bailout package agreed earlier this month sparked turmoil in financial markets this week.
Lagarde said the International Monetary Fund and European Commission have estimated the amount of necessary financial support at between 100 billion euro (133 billion US dollars) and 120 billion euros (159 billion US dollars) over three years.
France's share of the eurozone aid is 20.56 per cent, in line with its stake in the European Central Bank, Lagarde said.
In a statement, Sarkozy's office said the president had spoken earlier on Saturday with German Chancellor Angela Merkel and that the two leaders "noted their complete agreement" and "reaffirmed their determination to act fast" to put in place the rescue package, once Greece reaches an agreement with the European Commission and the IMF.

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