ATHENS, Dec. 21 (Xinhua) -- The central Bank of Greece lowered its growth forecasts for the Greek economy for 2017-2019 in its interim report on monetary policy 2017 which was released on Thursday.

According to an e-mailed press statement, the forecast for GDP growth in 2017 was lowered to 1.6 percent, down from last year's forecast for 2.6 percent GDP growth this year.

Regarding 2018, the report sees GDP growing by 2.4 percent and 2.5 percent in 2019, against a growth rate of 3 percent foreseen last year.

The 2018 state budget the parliament ratified on Tuesday projects 1.6 percent growth for this year, but marginally higher rate of 2.5 percent of GDP for the New Year.

With the debt-laden country entering the final stretch towards the end of the current third bailout program in the summer of 2018, both the central bank and the government request from international lenders to clarify as soon as possible the framework of cooperation and support to Athens in the post-bailout era.