Mystery of Greek Finance Minister's Handwritten Notes

After Greece's new finance minister Euclid Tsakalotos emerged from an important meeting to determine the future of his country, all eyes were on his handwritten notes that he was holding.

The Eurogroup's finance ministers met in Brussels Tuesday with the goal of agreeing on a financing deal to stave economic catastrophe in New York. In his second day on the job, Tsakalotos emerged from the meeting carrying notes written on hotel stationery. Social media comments poked fun at his English notes, including what appeared to be phrases like "political situation," "no triumpphalism" and "message to people."

Tsakalotos, shown shaking the hand of Jeroen Dijsselbloem, Dutch finance minister and Eurogroup president, was the country's chief negotiator before he became the finance minister of Greece. The former finance minister Yanis Varoufakis resigned Monday.

The ministers of the euro area member states said at the end of their meeting Tuesday that they are waiting for new proposals from Greece. Next, the European leaders will meet on Sunday, by which they hope Greece will submit its latest requests. Taking the hard line, German chancellor said in a press conference that it expects "detailed Greek proposals" for a multi-year program on Thursday.

Greece is in immediate need of cash while its banking system is virtually shuttered. A deadline of July 20, when the country is due to pay 3.5 billion euros to the European Central Bank, also looms.

Among the questions about his notes: did he write them or an adviser? And why are they in English?

Tsakalotos often writes and speaks in English and his English is better than his Greek, the New York Times reports. Tsakalotos was born in the Netherlands, raised in Britain and studied at Oxford University.