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By Paul Taylor BRUSSELS (Reuters) - German Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Thursday everything must be done to prevent Greece running out of money before it reaches a cash-for-reform deal with its international creditors, amid heightened concern that Athens is nearing the brink. Merkel, Europe's pre-eminent leader, was speaking after a meeting she called "constructive" with Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras on the sidelines of a European Union summit in Brussels. Asked how great the risk was of Athens running out of cash before any agreement was reached with its official lenders, she told a news conference: "Everything must be undertaken to prevent that." Tsipras told reporters they had noted significant progress had been made in the negotiations and added: "We have covered a large part of the distance." He said he was very optimistic and that they had moved closer to a deal on an economic reform program that would unlock frozen bailout funds.More...