U.S. President Barack Obama (L) reviews a presidential honor guard during the official welcoming ceremony at the presidential palace in Athens, Greece, Nov. 15, 2016. U.S. President Barack Obama arrived in Athens Tuesday for a two-day visit amid draconian security measures as his trip marks the first to the country by a U.S. leader since 1999. (Xinhua/Marios Lolos)

ATHENS, Nov. 15 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Barack Obama reiterated on Tuesday Washington's steady and strong support to Greece's efforts to address the debt crisis while visiting Athens as part of his last European tour.

During talks with the Greek political leadership, the outgoing U.S. leader urged an end to austerity and called for debt relief in combination with Greece's commitment to the path of reforms.

"Austerity cannot be the formula for growth. The Greek economy needs space to recover," Obama said in joint statements with Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras broadcast live on Greek national broadcaster ERT.

The U.S. president acknowledged that Greek people faced very difficult times during the seven-year crisis that brought the country at the brink of economic meltdown and Greece was now on the right path to recovery.

Obama sent several times a clear message of support to Greek people dealing with the economic crisis. Athens hopes this official support will help its case in forthcoming talks with its international creditors.

Greece is pushing for debt relief as soon as possible to ensure sustainable growth.

In addition, during Tuesday's talks, Obama praised Greek people's compassion for refugees and promised that the United States would continue to help in coping with the refugee crisis.

"In my message to the rest of Europe, I will continue to emphasize our view that austerity alone cannot deliver prosperity. It is going to be important both with respect to debt relief and other accommodative strategies to help the Greek people during this period of adjustment," he said at the Greek prime minister's office.

Before an official dinner hosted by Greek President Prokopis Pavlopoulos, Obama also reiterated the U.S. government's willingness to support ongoing efforts for a solution to the Cyprus issue.

The Greek authorities have taken strict security measures, cordoning off a large part of the city centre with approximately 4,500 Greek police officers deployed across Athens.

On Wednesday, Obama is scheduled to visit the Acropolis Hill and deliver a speech at Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center before leaving Greece for Berlin.