Government must stay the course on reforms, Steinmeier says after meeting with Greek PM
The Greek government must brave the political cost and stay the course on reforms, German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier said Friday.
Steinmeier, who is in Athens on a two-day official visit, was speaking after meeting with conservative Prime Minister Antonis Samaras. The meeting was attended by his Greek counterpart and deputy Prime Minister Evangelos Venizelos.
“I see that the government is determined to stay the course notwithstanding the political cost and the risks involved,” the German envoy told journalists adding that a number of pressing issues remain, most importantly youth unemployment.
Official statistics published Thursday showed that the unemployment rate among young people aged up to 24 came to 57.9 percent in October.
Steinmeier, who has plans to meet with representatives of Greece’s opposition parties before wrapping up his visit later on Friday, said his visit to Athens was an expression of solidarity for the crisis-hit nation.
