Acting German Chancellor Angela Merkel told Greeks during her farewell visit to Athens on Friday that she was aware of the large expectations she had in the people of Greece when their country was on the brink of default ten years ago.

At the time, in September 2011, Merkel cautioned that Greece's exit from the eurozone would unleash "domino effects" and should be avoided at all costs.

There were riots when she visited Greece in 2012 as Germany, Greece's largest lender, imposed harsh austerity measures on Athens, sparking anti-German sentiment in the streets.

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Relations between the two countries went through "ups and downs," said Merkel.

"What gave us strength in my opinion during this period between the political leadership of Greece and Germany is that we always had the impression that we belong together," she said.

Relations steadily improved following two further visits to the country by Merkel, and as Greece continued to implement austerity measures.

The outgoing German chancellor told reporters on Friday Greece had "come a long way but I don't believe the solution is to throw the Stability Pact overboard" - the Stability Pact governs European Union member states' borrowing levels.

Asked to comment on Greece and Germany's relationship with Turkey, Merkel said "it's in our own interest to have a decent relationship with Turkey, despite differences of opinion... such as on human rights."

She added that "problems" persist "and sometimes, more problems are added," in a likely reference to Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan's recent order to declare 10 Western ambassadors "persona non grata" after they had called for the release of detained philanthropist Osman Kavala.

The diplomatic crisis between Ankara and the West, including the U.S. and Germany, has meanwhile been defused.