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Greek Prime Minister Antonis Samaras addressed the citizens of the country with a few brief statements, which, however, were received beyond its borders.

"At this point, the government is fighting on all fronts to restore the image of the country and facilitate its rescue in order not to lose the great sacrifices of the Greek people," he said.

His first comment referred to yesterday's rush of workers from Skaramangas shipyard into the Ministry of Defence and the subsequent violent protests involving representatives of left parties and trade union leaders.
"Those who think I will allow the state to be an easy game are wrong. We have not given up the goals, we will continue with our efforts," he said in front of the Prime Minister's residence Maximou.
"I'm very sorry for all those who know the importance of law and democracy and who not only do not help but hamper and add oil to the fire," he said shortly after his return from Paris. He was a special guest at an international conference there organized by the international edition International Herald Tribune on the occasion of the 125th anniversary of its establishment.
In response to a question about the forthcoming visit of German Chancellor Angela Merkel to Athens next Tuesday, Antonis Samaras described it as "a very positive development." "We will meet Mrs. Merkel as befits the leader of a great power and a friendly country such as Germany."
As expected, the opposition did not accept the news with enthusiasm. SYRIZA describes the visit of the German Chancellor as "another demonstration of worshipping bankers and capital."
"Mr. Samaras is still not aware of exactly where he is. The only battle the government is fighting is the communication campaign the aim of which is to deceive the Greek people and to force it to accept the new severe austerity of the memorandum."
The party of Independent Greeks expressed their dissatisfaction too. "Mrs. Merkel must convince the Greek people that in addition to shaking her finger and requiring sacrifices, while her country has been gaining tens of billions of euro from the crisis, she is willing to work for a Europe of nations, not for a German Europe" the party representative Christos Zois said.
The party headquarters have stated that Independent Greeks will organize a protest in front of the German Embassy in Athens on the day of Angela Merkel’s visit. The party has indicated that they want to express their disagreement with "making Greece a German protectorate." Independent Greeks will submit to the German Ambassador, "a manifesto of protest to require the German reparations and the repayment of the occupation loan as well as the submission of the list of names drawn up by the former head of Siemens in Greece, Michalis Christoforakos, to the Greek authorities."
The non-parliamentary party "Arma politon" defines the visit as a provocation and an insult to the Greek people. According to its members, it resembles "a murderer who returns to the scene." They urge "all Greeks to welcome Angela Merkel as she deserves."
At the same time, the largest trade unions in the country GSEE and ADEDY have announced a three-hour strike and a protest in Syntagma Square to welcome the German Chancellor.
"The trade unions respond with protests to the neoliberal policies applied at European and national level, following the orders of Mrs. Merkel and European leaders," a statement of the trade union of public sector workers ADEDY reads.
Trade union leaderships have informed that the protest planned for Monday will take place as announced.