BERLIN
German Chancellor Angela Merkel has invited Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras for talks in Berlin next week, the German government spokesman has said.
Merkel’s invitation came at a time of growing tensions between Athens and Berlin, after the Greek government insisted on a WWII reparations claim for the period in which the Nazi government occupied its country.
German government spokesman Steffen Seibert said Merkel had invited Tsipras to Berlin on March 23 during a telephone conversation on Monday, which Tsipras accepted.
Greek PM Tsipras received criticism from Berlin last week following his remarks regarding a possible WWII reparations claim from Germany.
Tsipras claimed that Germany owed around €162 billion ($236 billion) due to crimes committed during the Nazi occupation in which thousands of Greeks were killed or starved to death.
Outspoken criticism
The German government has dismissed the claims and argued the reparation issue was resolved under previous agreements with Greece.
Tsipras and his radical-left SYRIZA party have been outspoken critics of Germany’s demand for economic reforms and austerity measures amid the Eurozone's crisis-hit countries.
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.
EU heads of government are set to meet on Thursday and Friday in Brussels to discuss Greece’s debt with its international creditors.
