ATHENS
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg has thanked Greece for its "unwavering support" for the alliance, as the country continues to suffer high unemployment and economic turmoil amid harsh "troika"-imposed austerity policies.
After holding talks with Greek Prime Minister Antonis Samaras and Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Evangelos Venizelos in Athens on Thursday, Stoltenberg said: "We thank you for all the contributions you make to our shared security."
Greece spends more than 2 percent of its Gross Domestic Product on defense - one of the four countries in NATO which spends such a high amount, Samaras said.
The military expenditure has continued despite its commitment to economic austerity policies imposed by the "troika" - the European Central Bank, the European Commission and the International Monetary Fund.
- 'Sustained commitment'
The country's unemployment rate has continued to rise, reaching 1.3 million jobless in a population of 9.3 million, according to a recent report by the Levy Economics Institute of Bard College in New York.
Stoltenberg said the country's "commitment has been sustained despite difficult times".
"Greece has remained an active and effective member of our Alliance and for over 60 years,” he added.
The Secretary General stated that NATO should be "kept strong" in order to face its many challenges.
Referring to tensions with Russia, he said: "We call on Russia to end its destabilizing actions in Ukraine."
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