The Council of the Socialist International (SI) is holding a two-day meeting in Athens on July 1-2.
Opening the meeting, Prime Minsiter George Papandreou, who is also president of SI, said: "We took difficult decisions for Greece, doing our patriotic duty to save our country; necessary decisions to save the pensions and salaries..."
Papandreou described as "hubris" the situation that prevailed in Greece in the past and the way in authority was managed.
He thanked the European governments and peoples and also the "socialist family", for their support and assistance to Greece.
Referring to protesters who have been "demonstrating peacefully" across the country over the last three weeks, he said that they are demanding renovation of democracy.
Watch the Athens |Council live here
Agenda of the Athens Council
