Managing Chancellor
Angela Merkel on her farewell visit to Greece
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis (left) with Chancellor Angela Merkel in Athens. Photo: Petros Giannakouris / AP / dpa
© dpa-infocom GmbH
During her term of office, the relationship with EU member Greece was often difficult: Angela Merkel emphasized the role of dialogue in relations during her visit to Athens.
During her farewell visit to Athens, the outgoing Chancellor Angela Merkel addressed the changeful relations between Greece and Germany.
During her term of office there were “difficult situations”, she said on Friday at a meeting with Greek President Ekaterina Sakellaropoulou. “The bottom line is that dialogue has always been the key to the solution,” said Merkel, who is still in office until a new chancellor is elected. There was a good foundation for this. “What has given us strength on both sides over and over again is that we both know that we belong together in Europe.”
“There were moments when we felt very alone,” confirmed President Sakellaropoulou, referring to the Greek financial crisis, in which the country was on the verge of bankruptcy and the exit from the euro. However, this difficult time also ensured that relations with Germany were improved and that we understood each other better. Merkel is a great politician, said Sakellaropoulou – she hopes that the Chancellor will remain active in the future. “I will certainly remain a political person, but I will hand over responsibility,” replied Merkel.
Following the conversation, a meeting with the Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis is on the agenda in the late morning before Merkel travels back to Germany at noon.