German FM says stands by Greece's side: newspaper

Germany stands by Greece's side in recent years, as the country faces the dual crisis of the debt load and the migrant influx, German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier said in an interview published on Sunday shortly before the start of his two-day visit to Greece.

"We have proved several times that we do not leave Greece alone. We were the first European country to offer support to assist the refugees," the German official told Greek newspaper "Kathimerini" (Daily) before his meetings with Greek leaders on Sunday and Monday.

Amid concerns over the fate of the European Union (EU)-Turkey deal on the refugee flows launched in March, Steinmeier stressed that so far all sides are honoring their commitments.

"Both Turkey and the EU benefit from the agreement," he stressed when asked to comment on Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's recent warnings that a new wave of migrants towards Europe may be unleashed should European partners freeze talks on Turkey's accession into the EU.

Regarding escalating tensions between Athens and Ankara lately over sovereignty issues in the Aegean Sea, the German official said that the terms of the Treaty of Lausanne, which set out the modern borders between Greece and Turkey in the early 20th century, are indisputable.

On the Cyprus talks, he expressed hope that all sides will contribute to a solution for the reunification of the island. Endit