BERLIN
German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier has urged his Greek counterpart Nikos Kotzias on Sunday to smooth over the tensions between the two countries and focus on realizing big potential for closer cooperation.
“We should not let the undeniably large and difficult issues, which we must solve together in Europe, to undermine the strong relations between Germany and Greece,” Steinmeier said in a written statement, following talks with Kotzias in Berlin.
Kotzias visited the German capital for the second time in two months, as relations between Greece and its biggest creditor Germany continue to suffer from disagreements over the bailout program for Greece and repeated Greek claims for WWII reparations.
The two ministers did not have a press conference after their meeting but shared in their Twitter accounts that they had “a pleasant and fruitful dialogue”, at a dinner at the German Foreign Ministry.
Steinmeier said in a brief written statement after the meeting that it was time for Germany and Greece to strengthen mutual understanding between the two countries and work towards realizing the potential for cooperation.
“We have agreed to take stock of bilateral relations between Germany and Greece, and to discuss its further development with an eye on the future,” Steinmeier stressed.
Tsipras to meet Merkel on Monday
Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras, who has been an outspoken critic of Germany's demand for economic reforms and austerity measures, is set to make his first official visit to Berlin on Monday.
The Greek government, which is entirely dependent on the European Central Bank for emergency loans, is expected to run out of funds if the bailout payment is not made this month.
Greek PM Tsipras also received criticism from Berlin last week following his remarks regarding a possible WWII reparations claim from Germany.
He said last week that Germany owed around €162 billion ($236 billion) to Greece, due to confiscations and crimes committed during the period in which the Nazi government occupied the country.
The German government has repeatedly argued that the WWII reparation issue has been resolved under previous agreements with Greece.
