“You had the Great Depression in the United States,” Samaras told Clinton, who visited Greece as part of a delegation of Greek-American businessmen. “This is exactly what we’re going through in Greece – it’s our version of the Great Depression,” the Premier said, according to Reuters.

Samaras told Clinton that the new government will proceed immediately with much needed deep-rooted changes and reforms, pointing out that Greece is currently going through an unprecedented crisis and was already fighting a crippling recession, ANA writes. He also noted that the target is to boost recovery with the support of the Greek people, and stressed that strong leadership and faith in the people are needed in order for the problems to be solved.

Clinton was in Athens to address an event organised by a group of prominent Greek Americans, through the Hellenic Initiative Program which is backed by business executives, lawyers, scientists and others, aiming at the establishment of a fund that will promote foreign investments in Greece.

The former US President, in turn, said that he believes in Greece’s future, adding that he considers Greece a rich country, with plentiful resources, and congratulated the new coalition government, adding that all over the world, when there are problems people must work together. “I think that together, we can do something to help”, Clinton said before stressing the need for long-term reform.

Clinton was also in contact with former Prime Minister George Papandreou on Saturday, with whom he discussed international developments, the situation in Europe and the impact of the crisis in Greece.