Chancellor Angela Merkel said that Germany is ready to help the Greek government as it takes the necessary steps to resolve its economic woes, rebuffing European critics who advocate Greece's exit from the euro.

Merkel, speaking at a joint press conference with Greek Prime Minister Antonis Samaras in Berlin today, said she aims to heal a rift in public perceptions that has opened, as Greeks blame Germany for painful austerity and Greece's pace of change triggers "impatience" among Germans. Her intention is to help Greece reach "the light at the end of the tunnel," she said.

"What I want is to bring the two realities that have emerged back together into one reality," Merkel said. "Now it's the task of those who have political responsibility in Europe to bridge that gap. I want Greece to stay in the euro zone and that's what I'm working for."