Angela Merkel Hails Greece Austerity Measures

German Chancellor Angela Merkel has called on the Greek government to stay on the “tough path” of harsh austerity measures and spending cuts, which she says will pay off, amid Greek people’s protest against her visit to Athens.

Merkel, who was on her first visit to Greece in five years, said on Tuesday, “I am deeply convinced that this tough path is worth it and Germany wants to be a good partner.”

“A lot has been achieved. There is still a lot to do and Germany and Greece will work very closely together.”

Following Merkel’s arrival in Athens, Greek police fired tear gas to disperse over 25,000 anti-austerity protesters in front of the parliament. Security forces also arrested a group of demonstrators.

Outraged protesters were carrying banners declaring, “You are not welcome, Imperialisten Raus (Imperialists out)” or “No to the Fourth Reich” while others carried signs marked with the Nazi swastika.

Earlier in the day, more than 7,000 police forces were positioned near the German embassy and the Greek parliament building in the city center ahead of the German chancellor’s six-hour visit.

Merkel has turned into a hate figure in the recession-hit Greece over the harsh austerity measures imposed on the country in return for promised loans and debt relief worth about 347 billion euros ($448 billion).

Her visit came at a critical time for Athens, which is involved in talks with its international creditors over a 13.5-billion-euro package of more austerity measures and cuts in a bid to receive further financial aid.

Greece has been at the epicenter of the eurozone debt crisis and is experiencing its fifth year of recession, while austerity measures have left about half a million people without jobs.

The country has depended on bailouts from fellow countries in the 17-nation single currency bloc and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) since May 2010. To get the loans, Greece implemented a series of deep income cuts and tax hikes, while increasing retirement ages and facilitating private sector layoffs.

Presstv