Greek PM optimistic about country’s economic progress

PanARMENIAN.Net - Greek Prime Minister Antonis Samaras exuded confidence during a visit to Berlin on Tuesday, January 8 claiming his country will do everything possible to restore financial order and investor confidence in the economy, according to RIA Novosti.

Samaras spoke ahead of a closed-door meeting with German Chancellor Angela Merkel and amidst a grueling economic crisis that has pummeled Greece in recent years, leaving it with soaring unemployment rates and the need for a series of international bailouts.

“We are trying to win back credibility, on the part of the people of Europe and on the part of the markets,” Samaras said.

Germany has played a leading role in securing financial assistance for Athens from EU member states and the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Greece has largely remained afloat by loans since May 2010.

In exchange, the lenders have insisted that Greece enact a series of tough economic reforms, including spending cuts and tax hikes.

For his part, Samaras said his country has already taken a series of legislative measures to help stem the crisis.

Merkel spokesman Steffen Seibert said earlier that the meeting with Samaras was to be an "informal exchange of opinions."