U.S. President Barack Obama telephoned Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras to congratulate Greece΄s new premier on his election victory and told him that the United States will support the Greek government΄s efforts to end austerity policies, Greek government sources said on Wednesday.

According to AMNA, Obama told Tsipras that this support will also be expressed in action, through cooperation between the U.S. Treasury and the Greek finance ministry.

The U.S. President noted that Europe must break free of austerity policies, as the U.S. had done, and adopt a strong agenda for growth.

He advised Tsipras to get some rest now that the election campaign was over, saying that he would need his strength for what lay ahead, with Tsipras replying that “this is difficult, due to the circumstances”. Obama expressed certainty that he will also manage to get some rest and told Tsipras: “I started young as well and now my hair has turned grey”.