ATHENS

Greece on Friday reaffirmed that the issue of post-war reparations with Germany remains open to discussion.

"The government's position on war reparations and the occupation loan is clear and was expressed in the prime minister's last meeting with German Chancellor (Olaf) Scholtz," said government spokesperson Akis Skertsos in a statement.

"We look forward to a discussion and resolution with the German government, recognizing the difficulties and pending legal issues," he added.

Skertsos also underlined that the lack of agreement on the matter so far between the two countries did not cast a shadow on their bilateral relations.

Calls have been rising in Athens for war reparations from Germany since Greece plunged into severe financial crisis in 2010.

During World War II, the Axis Powers occupied Greece for more than three years before Germany's withdrawal in 1944.

Greece's General Accounting Office estimated in 2015 that Germany owed some €279 billion ($305 billion) in reparations with an additional €10.3 billion to reimburse a wartime forced loan.

Berlin has repeatedly rejected the claims and says it has honored its obligations, including a payment of 115 million Deutsche marks to Greece in 1960.