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Tsipras and Hollande want bailout agreed in late August

ATHENS/ISMAILIA, Egypt (Reuters) - Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras and French President Francois Hollande agreed on Thursday that a new bailout for Greece could and should be agreed soon after August 15.

The two men were speaking in Egypt on the sidelines of a ceremony to inaugurate the New Suez Canal, the Greek prime minister's office in Athens said.

Hollande, speaking to reporters at the inauguration, said: “The objective is for the negotiations on the program … to be concluded at the end of August. We know it’s difficult but we must make sure that the conditions are met, in a good spirit.

“For now I believe the atmosphere is right and discussions are going in the best of directions,” he added.

A European Commission spokeswoman said earlier in Brussels talks with Greece on a third bailout were moving ahead "in a satisfactory way" and reaching an agreement was possible before August 20.

(Reporting by Jeremy Gaunt and Elizabeth Pineau; editing by Andrew Roche)