German Chancellor Merkel visits Athens in show of support for economic reforms
German Chancellor Angela Merkel has travelled to Athens in a visit seen as a show of support for the Greek government’s reform efforts. This comes a day after Greece returned to the international bond markets.
Chancellor Merkel used Friday's visit to the Greek capital to encourage the government there to press on with painful reforms designed to put the country back on the road to economic recovery.
While the chancellor acknowledged the fact that many Greeks continued to experience a "very, very difficult period," she also said she believed the country still had much untapped potential, particularly in the tourism and agriculture sectors.
Speaking at a meeting of young Athens entrepreneurs, where she was joined by Greek Prime Minister Antonis Samaras, Merkel drew a parallel between the difficulties currently being experienced in Greece and the situation in eastern Germany after her country was reunified in 1990.
"The opportunities and the possibilities outweighed [the difficulties]," she said. "And I am sure this will be the same in Greece, despite the difficult journey."
Later in the day, the chancellor was expected to use a meeting with Prime Minister Samaras to discuss Germany's contribution to a 500 million euro ($690 million) investment fund that Greece has had access to in efforts to turn around its economy.
Tight security
Security was stepped up in Athens ahead of the chancellor's visit, mainly aimed at preventing anti-austerity protesters from getting anywhere near Merkel. Tens of thousands of people took to the streets to demonstrate against the Greek government's austerity measures - which have been supported by Germany - during Merkel's last trip to Athens two years ago.
Her trip comes a day after Greece successfully returned to international bond markets with a five-year debt issue that raised three billion euros. This was Greece's first bond sale since it was locked out of international markets in 2010 due to concerns about its liquidity.
Also on Thursday, a bomb went off outside of a Bank of Greece building in the capital, causing damage but no casualties. There was no immediate claim of responsibility.
pfd/dr (dpa, AFP) DW DE
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