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German Leader Arrives in Athens Official Warmth and Public Rage for German Leader in Athens
(about 1 hour later)
ATHENS — With thousands of police reinforcements on duty to shield her from rowdy protesters who see her as the arch-villain of the euro crisis and their national pain, Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany arrived in Athens early Tuesday afternoon to meet Greek leaders and Greek and German entrepreneurs. Civil servants, including teachers and doctors, walked off the job for three hours starting at noon with banners reading “Don’t cry for us Mrs. Merkel” and “Merkel you are not welcome here.” ATHENS — With thousands of police reinforcements on duty to shield her from rowdy protesters who see her as the arch-villain of the euro crisis and their national pain, Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany was greeted by the Greek prime minister as “a friend of Greece” and tried to reassure the Greek people that she was not here “as a teacher, to give grades” but rather “as a good friend and a real partner.”
Ms. Merkel’s planned six-hour visit will be dominated by the issue of Greek measures to impose the austerity needed to keep Greece in the euro zone. Unpersuaded, furious Greeks held rallies and protests that included a job walkout by civil servants, including teachers and doctors. Some banners read “Don’t cry for us Mrs. Merkel” and “Merkel you are not welcome here.” A group of protesters burned a flag bearing the symbol of the Nazi swastika while protesters dressed in Nazi-style uniforms drew cheers of approval as they rode a small jeep past a police cordon.
But given the sharp public anger over Germany’s role in pushing Greece toward those painful measures, Greek authorities banned protests in much of downtown Athens and mounted the biggest security operation since 1999 when President Bill Clinton visited Athens amid furious protests at NATO airstrikes against the former Yugoslavia. At a joint news conference with Prime Minister Antonis Samaras, Mrs. Merkel said Greece must make good on its commitments to creditors but acknowledged that “this period is very difficult for Greeks.” She called for patience and endurance to see through an economic reform effort that is tied to crucial rescue financing. She was referring to Greece’s negotiations with its so-called troika of foreign lenders, the International Monetary Fund, the European Central Bank and the European Commission, on the latest round of austerity measures. This package of cuts, worth $17.4 billion, would secure a $40.8 billion loan from the troika. Without those funds, the country faces default in late November.
“A large part of the road has been completed, it is worthwhile for Greece to finish the course as if it doesn’t, things will be much harder later,” she said.
She said that Germany stood ready to help Greece enforce much-needed measures to bolster growth.
Mr. Samaras also stressed the importance of reviving the moribund economy. “The recession is the enemy,” he said.
“Greek people are bleeding right now, but we are determined to remain in Europe and to win this gamble,” he said, noting that Mrs. Merkel’s visit had “broken our international isolation” and “turned a new page in the relations of Greece and Germany.”
“Greece has increased its credibility,” he said.
Anticipating an outpouring of public rage, Greek authorities had banned protests in much of downtown Athens and mounted the biggest security operation since 1999 when President Bill Clinton visited Athens amid furious protests at NATO airstrikes against the former Yugoslavia.
Some 7,000 police officers, many brought to the capital from the provinces for the day, are on standby along with rooftop snipers.Some 7,000 police officers, many brought to the capital from the provinces for the day, are on standby along with rooftop snipers.
Security was particularly heavy outside the Parliament and the German Embassy, where the police were prepared to resort to the use of water cannons if needed. Prime Minister Antonis Samaras, President Karolos Papoulias and the fragile coalition government are embroiled in difficult talks with Greece’s so-called troika of foreign lenders on a $17.4 billion dollar austerity package. Security was particularly heavy outside the Parliament and the German Embassy, where the police were prepared to resort to the use of water cannons if needed. A mostly peaceful demonstration near Parliament of about 40,000 — modest by Greek standards — was marred by small outbursts of violence in the early afternoon when hooded protesters broke away and started throwing stones at police officers who responded with tear gas. A police spokeswoman said 50 people had been detained for questioning.
Alexis Tsipras, the head of the leftist opposition party Syriza, which came second in the June elections after campaigning on a strong anti-austerity package, attended the rally with Bern Ritzinger, the head of Germany’s far-left party Die Linke. In comments to state television channel Net, Mr. Tsipras declared that “Merkel is here to support the Merkelists of Greece, Samaras, Venizelos and Kouvelis,” a reference to the prime minister and his coalition leaders.
Ms. Merkel’s government has said her visit is intended as a clear signal of solidarity with the Greeks and will not interfere with a forthcoming report by the troika of lenders.
Mario Draghi, president of the European Central Bank, told reporters in Brussels on Tuesday that no decisions would be taken on Greece until the report is produced, but he warned that “regarding reforms, more needs to be done” in Greece, Reuters reported.
Ms. Merkel’s visit comes only days after her main rivals, the Social Democratic Party, announced that Peer Steinbrück would run against her in next year’s general election.Ms. Merkel’s visit comes only days after her main rivals, the Social Democratic Party, announced that Peer Steinbrück would run against her in next year’s general election.
Mr. Steinbrück served as Ms. Merkel’s finance minister in her government from 2005 to 2009, and his party has been more lenient in its discussion of Greece’s future prospects in the euro zone, arguing the time lost by the government between elections earlier this year must be taken into account when considering aid to the country.Mr. Steinbrück served as Ms. Merkel’s finance minister in her government from 2005 to 2009, and his party has been more lenient in its discussion of Greece’s future prospects in the euro zone, arguing the time lost by the government between elections earlier this year must be taken into account when considering aid to the country.
The Social Democrats criticized Ms. Merkel’s visit to Athens as coming too late. The chancellor was last in Athens in 2007. Carsten Schneider, a finance expert with the Social Democrats criticized the chancellor in comments Tuesday to ARD public broadcaster as “only giving advice from behind a desk in Berlin” since the outbreak of the crisis in 2009.The Social Democrats criticized Ms. Merkel’s visit to Athens as coming too late. The chancellor was last in Athens in 2007. Carsten Schneider, a finance expert with the Social Democrats criticized the chancellor in comments Tuesday to ARD public broadcaster as “only giving advice from behind a desk in Berlin” since the outbreak of the crisis in 2009.
Even within Ms. Merkel’s own Christian Democratic party there are differences of opinion on how to handle Greece. While the chancellor has in recent months shifted her rhetoric from stressing the importance of austerity and come out more strongly in favor of keeping Greece in the euro zone, her current finance minister, Wolfgang Schäuble has upheld a tougher line on Athens.Even within Ms. Merkel’s own Christian Democratic party there are differences of opinion on how to handle Greece. While the chancellor has in recent months shifted her rhetoric from stressing the importance of austerity and come out more strongly in favor of keeping Greece in the euro zone, her current finance minister, Wolfgang Schäuble has upheld a tougher line on Athens.
“We want to help Greece to build up an efficient bureaucracy and an efficient economy, but at some point, Greece needs to stand on its own two feet,” Mr. Schäuble told RBB public broadcaster on Monday . “It is pointless to help a bottomless pit.”“We want to help Greece to build up an efficient bureaucracy and an efficient economy, but at some point, Greece needs to stand on its own two feet,” Mr. Schäuble told RBB public broadcaster on Monday . “It is pointless to help a bottomless pit.”
Ms. Merkel’s government has said her visit is intended as a clear signal of solidarity with the Greeks and will not interfere with the forthcoming report by the troika of lenders — the International Monetary Fund, the European Central Bank and the European Commission. Headlines in center-right Greek newspapers read, “A message of support,” “A decisive visit by Merkel” and “We are staying in the euro.” Others, more skeptical, declared “Merkel is bringing no gifts” and “A day of anger.”
Mario Draghi, president of the European Central Bank, told reporters in Brussels on Tuesday that no decisions would be taken on Greece until the report is produced, but he warned that “regarding reforms, more needs to be done” in Greece, Reuters reported.
Daily speculation in the local media about the outcome of Greek negotiations with the troika, aimed at securing a $40.8 billion dollar loan without which the country faces default in late November, was eclipsed on Tuesday by anticipation of the German leader’s visit.
Headlines in center-right newspapers read, “A message of support,” “A decisive visit by Merkel” and “We are staying in the euro.” Others, more skeptical, declared “Merkel is bringing no gifts” and “A day of anger.”
This anger was echoed by a nurse heading into the center to join fellow protesters. “This is pure provocation, we have to answer back,” said the nurse, Christina Amanti, 37. “It’s like she’s visiting her protectorate. What’s she going to do, pat us on the back and tell us to keep getting poorer, that it’s good for us?”This anger was echoed by a nurse heading into the center to join fellow protesters. “This is pure provocation, we have to answer back,” said the nurse, Christina Amanti, 37. “It’s like she’s visiting her protectorate. What’s she going to do, pat us on the back and tell us to keep getting poorer, that it’s good for us?”

Melissa Eddy contributed reporting from Strasbourg, France.

Melissa Eddy contributed reporting from Strasbourg, France.