Merkel: I believe Samaras is doing his best

Replying to a question during her standard summer interview with state television network ARD, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said about prime minister Antonis Samaras that "I think he is doing his best."

Merkel added that "a lot of credibility was lost in the last 2.5 years" and that "every day counts to strengthen efforts to effectively implement what has been promised. I said that words must be followed by deeds. But words have a different impact when faced with these massive changes and that is why I ask everyone to weigh their words too," she said regarding statements about Greece leaving the Eurozone.

She asked that everyone await the Troika report. "When we talk about Greece, these are the people who monitor in situ the progress of reforms. I said to the Greek prime minister, like others did, that a lot of things remain to be done. But when we say that we ask for credibility, then the Greeks are entitled to expect that we will judge them on the basis of this report, because much is at stake when we talk about Greece."

Regarding the possibility to provide a new support package to Greece she said "we have a second bailout package and now expect the Troika report for its implementation. That's why I spoke with the prime minister and asked him to implement this package. I will see the report and then assess the situation."

Replying to a question about whether she cares for people who are suffering, Merkel said that "it is always about people, people in Germany and Greece. But we should be able to count on each other. I understand the concerns, I know what many are going through in Greece, it is unfair that many who have money have gone abroad and invested elsewhere and ordinary people need to pay in many cases. This is very annoying, so I say that the euro will remain a stable currency only if we regain our credibility as Europeans, which was lost in the past because certain commitments were repeatedly not met."