Greece can count on Germany, Merkel tells Kathimerini before visit

Ahead of a two-day visit to Athens starting on Thursday, German Chancellor Angela Merkel has expressed her support for Greece and the country's reform effort in an exclusive statement to Kathimerini, saying that the country can "continue to count on its partnership and friendship with Germany." 

Merkel, who last visited Greece in April 2014 under the previous conservative-led government, acknowledged that "the past few years have been very difficult for many people in Greece."

However, she noted that the country has made "great progress" with the completion of its third adjustment program last year and said this should be a "motive for the future." 

"Greece and Germany have close ties both via a plethora of bilateral relations and as partners in the European Union and NATO," she said, adding that she was looking forward to "good talks and interesting meetings"...