Greek Prime Minister, Alexis Tsipras, on Monday ruled out further pension cuts, but said a list of proposals for an overhaul of the nation's VAT (sales tax) regime had been sent to lenders and he claimed a deal was imminent.  Speaking at a meeting of the Greek Industrial Federation Monday, Tsipras said Greece had tabled proposals for a "viable deal with creditors" and that the country was "in the final straight for an agreement."  Read MoreGreekfirms making big bucks—despite the crisis  The remarks were echoed by the country's Finance Minister, Yanis Varoufakis, who added that Greece was near a cash-for-reforms deal with its euro zone partners and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) that would help it meet debt repayments next month.  "I think we are very close (to a deal) ... let's say in a week," Varoufakis told Greek TV channel, Star TV. "Another currency is not on our radar, not in our thoughts."  He also suggested that Europe's bailout fund pay back the country's maturing bonds held by the European Central Bank (ECB), and that Greece could pay it back at a later date.  There are also growing concerns that Greece could be facing bankruptcy, amid a risk of a default on debts to international creditors, with deadlines looming for repayments to the ECB and IMF next month.  Read MoreGreece's 'endgame' in sight; bond yields soar  Varoufakis himself said yesterday that if Greece had to choose between paying back the IMF or its own domestic wages and pensions bill next month, it would choose the latter.  The Hellenic Chambers of Commerce's Michalos told CNBC that Greece was in a "unique" financial and political situation, with nearly all opposing political parties in Greece, "urging the Syriza government to reach an honest and mutually beneficial agreement."  "This is a national crisis," he said. "It's the worst we've seen since the second World War and we should treat is as such."
Greek government officials are insisting that a deal with lenders over reforms is imminent, but Greece needs to implement reforms fast.