Greek PM says settlement of WW2 reparations claim would boost German ties

German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Greece's Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis meet in Berlin

BERLIN (Reuters) - Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said on Thursday a settlement of a Greek reparations claim against Germany over Nazi occupation of the country could tighten relations.

Calling it a difficult and 'sensitive' issue for Greeks, Mitsotakis said he hoped that 'this chapter could someday close'. Greece sent a diplomatic note to Germany earlier this year urging it to discuss Athens's claim for war reparations.

"We look forward to a positive response and I am convinced that a final settlement of this issue would be exceptionally useful for the further strengthening of relations between our two peoples," Mitsotakis said after meeting German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Berlin.

(Reporting By Angeliki Koutantou, writing by Michele Kambas)