Outgoing US President might have repeatedly called for a debt relief for Greece during his 2-day visit in Athens, but according to German media outlet “Deutsche Welle” (DW), his exhortations have fallen on deaf ears in the German political establishment. The negative tone was set by German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schauble who, in a rather undiplomatic manner, commented that Barack Obama’s interventions on the Greek debt “offered bad services” on the matter. As DW reports, German Chancellor Angela Merkel will disappoint Barack Obama during his visit in Berlin, as the German government is not expected to accept his comments on the need for a debt relief. In a similar line, “Suddeutsche Zeitung” reports that Merkel will make it clear to Obama that she is not willing to discuss anything related to a possible debt alleviation, but she will attempt to gain his support in pressuring the IMF to participate in the bailout program with the EU institutions.

Meanwhile, Citigroup analysts believe Barack Obama’s remarks in Athens on the Greek debt will have little effect, adding that, even though some short term measures on alleviating the burden of the huge debt could be agreed upon, they are cautious about a possible substantive debt restructuring that would render it sustainable. Athens is anxiously waiting for the joint press conference of the leaders of the US and Germany, scheduled to take place at 5.45pm, Thursday. The leaders of the US, Germany, Britain, Spain and Italy are expected to meet in a mini-Summit on Friday in Berlin.