|
Greek farmers block roads to demand financial help
Greek farmers blocked Monday some 15 roads in the centre and north of the country and shut down a number of border posts to demand financial help because of low prices for their products, police said.
The farmers began setting up roadblocks in the Thessaly region in the country's centre and in East Macedonia in the north at the weekend, but a minister warned the crisis-hit government could not afford more payouts.
On Monday the farmers blocked border posts with Turkey and Bulgaria, notably those of Kipi in the northeast and Promachonas above Serres in the north, inciting anger from Bulgarian lorry drivers.
The farmers burnt cotton as well as threw hundreds of litres of milk on the roads in addition to corn and wheat, the press agency ANA said.
They are seeking financial assistance because of a drop in prices for products including wheat, cotton and milk.
They are also asking for price reductions on fertilisers, pharmaceutical products and seeds, a rebate on the price of electricity and petrol, and a three-year freeze on their debts to the Greek Agricultural Bank.
In the southern Peloponnese region, citrus farmers threatened to take their tractors to Athens in protest.
Deputy finance minister Philippos Sachinidis traveled to a roadblock near Lamia in Thessaly on Sunday and told protesters that the government had already provided financial aid to farmers in December and could afford no more.
"There is no more room for other subsidies," he said.
Bulgarian lorry drivers slammed the protests as "illegal, anti-European and inhumane". Their association called on the government to intervene and open the borders.
Greece government spokesman, Georges Petalotis appealed to the farmers to raise the roadblocks and discuss the issue with the public authorities.
Katerina Batzelis, minister of rural development and food, invited the farmer unions to roundtable talks on January 25 and 26.
Greece has been hit by a major financial crisis, with debt constituting 113 percent of GDP.
The European Commission has published a damning report on the country's "unreliable" economic figures, increasing chances the EU executive will launch infringement proceedings against the country.
Greece's Socialist government came to power in October after over five years of Conservative rule.
Greek farmers protested at the same time last year for similar reasons, putting down roadblocks that lasted over two weeks.
Source MSN
|
Favoured: 0
