Paris, Jul 7 (IANS/EFE): France on Monday advised Greece to offer "proposals" for the resumption of negotiations with the Eurogroup, stressing that Paris was ready to return to the table.

"What France needs now is for Greece to make proposals that can be discussed," government spokesperson Stephane Le Foll said in a televised radio interview with RMC and BFM TV.

France wants to continue negotiations, Le Foll added, but said the discussion must be based primarily on a proposal from Greece.

The spokesperson equally emphasised France's willingness to work with Germany during a meeting on Monday evening in Paris between French President Francois Hollande and German Chancellor Angela Merkel.

When asked about Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras's request to forgive part of the country's debt, Le Foll declined to comment, but recalled that exemptions had already been made in the past, and said that "everyone must assume their responsibilities".

In his view, the Greek people's "no" vote in Sunday's bailout referendum was a way for them to demand respect from the international community.

As for the resignation of Greek Finance Minister Yanis Varoufakis, Le Foll argued the minister had said "things that were not acceptable", such as describing Greece's creditors as behaving like terrorists.

Earlier in the day, French Finance Minister Michel Sapin asked the anti-austerity Greek government to come up with serious and strong proposals to reach a crucial deal as the "No" vote in Sunday's referendum "does not fix anything".

"It's up to the Greek government to make proposals now. The vote does not fix anything automatically. It's a refusal of an attitude," Sapin said.

Speaking to the local broadcaster Europe 1, Sapin acknowledged that "the thread of dialogue is very tenuous", and urged Athens "to show that it is serious about negotiation and make serious and solid proposals" in order to bridge differences with its creditors and help the debt-ridden country get back again on its feet.