Eurogroup's President Jeroen Dijsselbloem appeared optimistic on Friday that economic recovery in Greece and across the eurozone will start in 2014, dismissing as "early" any discussion on possible additional debt relief for the country before April next year.

In his first visit to Athens as Eurogroup's chief, the Dutch finance minister held a series of meetings with Greek Prime Minister Antonis Samaras and other officials on the progress of the ongoing plan to overcome the three-year debt crisis and restore growth.

At the end, he expressed optimism for a positive outcome, as long as Greece "like all countries in the eurozone" keeps on working on the needed crucial structural reforms.

"Looking at the situation, there are the first signals of a turn in the economy that the measures will open up new perspectives," he said during a press conference after talks with his Greek counterpart Yannis Stournaras.

"Hopefully, over the course of next year, we will once again see the start of economic recovery throughout the euro zone and in Greece," he added.

In regards to the issue of a possible further debt reduction for Greece in the near future, Dijsselbloem stressed that it could be discussed, if necessary, next spring under certain conditions.

"It will be looked upon once again in April next year under the conditions that I have already mentioned. There was quite clear agreement and I see no need to start these discussions earlier," he said, pointing to the framework set last year with the latest bailout program.

Greek Prime Minister Antonis Samaras (L) meets with Eurogroup President Jeroen Dijsselbloem in Athens, Greece, May 31, 2013. Dijsselbloem said that the Greek government should push forward all the reforms demanded by the lenders' troika (EU, ECB, IMF) in order to open the way for a possible new debt haircut. The Dutch politician has recently stated that there are indications of a Greek recovery and that he is optimistic of the Eurozone's prospects. (Xinhua/Marios Lolos)

Kept afloat with multi-billion-euro loans in exchange of a painful austerity and reform plan since May 2010, the country still suffers from prolonged recession.

Seeking more breathing space, Athens is pushing its European Union and International Monetary Fund creditors for further debt relief -- this time from the official sector.

The two key prerequisites for further debt reduction remain the full implementation of the current reform program and the achievement of a primary surplus, said Dijsselbloem.