Berlin, March 24 (RHC)-- Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras has made his first visit to Germany amid a continued blame game between the two countries over Athens’s bailout program. On Monday, Tsipras and German Chancellor Angela Merkel met in the capital Berlin in an attempt to reboot the frayed ties between the two European states.

Tsipras told reporters at a news conference after the meeting: "I did not come here to ask for financial help … I came for an exchange of our thoughts and opinions, to see where there is common ground and where there is disagreement."

The Greek premier employed a conciliatory tone towards Germany, saying Berlin alone should not be held accountable for the financial quagmire Athens is stuck in. Tsipras gave a positive assessment of his talks with the German leader, saying Merkel "listens and wants to be constructive in the exchange of opinions."

Merkel, for her part, said the meeting was held in "a spirit of trust," but pointed out that the two sides did not make any new decision with regard to Athens’s much-debated bailout loans.