1ST LEAD Greece reports budget surplus ahead of EU report By Takis Tsafos and Frank Fuhrig, dpa

Athens/Washington (dpa) - Greece on Friday reported a 2016 budget surplus of 7 billion euros (7.5 billion dollars), excluding debt service, exceeding one of the targets set by its international creditors.The so-called primary surplus stood at 3.9 per cent of gross domestic product, according to preliminary figures from the Hellenic Statistical Authority.The data was released ahead of a report on Greece‘s economic performance to be issued by Eurostat, the European Union‘s official statistical authority.Greece has been reliant on international creditors since it suffered a financial meltdown in 2010. The country‘s primary surplus has been a major sticking point between the two sides.The primary surplus represents the government‘s operating balance and excludes the servicing of Greek debt, currently 314.9 billion euros or 179 per cent of GDP.As part of the most recent bailout package, creditors required the Greek government to agree to austerity measures and achieve a 2016 primary surplus of at least 0.5 per cent of GDP.The European Union has set a mid-term primary surplus target of 3.5 per cent for Greece in the hope that the government could start paying interest on the mountain of debt.Greek Finance Minister Euclid Tsakalotos met Friday in Washington with International Monetary Fund chief Christine Lagarde.IMF officials are planning to visit Athens shortly to spur the implementation of structural reforms demanded by Greece‘s creditors, particularly in public pensions and the tax systemLagarde said she had "constructive discussions" with Tsakalotos and other Greek officials.The IMF has split from the other international creditors, arguing that a further bailout is unrealistic without a reduction of Greek debt.The current, 2015 bailout, worth 86 billion euros, is the third since 2010.Lagarde, who did not comment directly on the reported Greek primary surplus, reiterated that debt relief remains part of the agenda for Greece.