Greek PM Tsipras says very optimistic on deal with creditors

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras said on Thursday he was optimistic of reaching a deal with the country's creditors after making significant progress in reform-for-cash negotiations. Tsipras, who met German Chancellor Angela Merkel on the sidelines of an EU summit on migration in Brussels, said both sides agreed that "there was significant progress made recently in discussions with the Brussels group, that we have covered a large part of the distance". Asked if Greece and its partners were close to a deal, he said: "We are closer than we were previously. I am very optimistic." (Reporting by Foo Yun Chee and Robert-Jan Bartunek, and Angeliki Koutantou in Athens; Editing by Paul Taylor)