Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 03-09-22

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From: The Macedonian Press Agency at http://www.mpa.gr and http://www.hri.org/MPA.

CONTENTS

[01] NO FUEL

[02] UNIVERSITIES, TECHNICAL SCHOOLS & TAXIS STRIKE

[03] DELAYS IN CUSTOMS DUE TO STRIKE

[04] PROFESSORS TO MEET WITH GOVERNMENT

[05] CHIEF OF ARMY STAFF IN CANADA

[06] MAGRIOTIS-ROUSSOPOULOS CONFRONTATION

[07] EUROPEAN CAR FREE DAY

[01] NO FUEL

All petrol stations in Greece have been closed since 6am this morning, following the decision of petrol station owners to move to an indefinitely long strike, accusing the Ministry of Finance of breaking the September 9 agreement on placing cash registers on the fuel pumps. A meeting of the Petrol Station Owners' Federation with the Ministry of Finance has been organized for 1pm today, while at the same time owners will hold a protest outside the Ministry. His hope that a solution will be found today was expressed by Minister of Development Akis Tsochatzopoulos.

[02] UNIVERSITIES, TECHNICAL SCHOOLS & TAXIS STRIKE

Strike will be the word of the week, as university professors are beginning their strike for as long as it takes, asking for a 20% raise in two installments, as had been agreed in April, while a four-day strike is also beginning for Technical School (TEI) professors. Athens will have no taxis until Friday and the same will be true for smaller cities on Wednesday and Thursday. There will be a strike of the Aristotle University Registrar's Office employees, who are asking for permanency in their positions. Strikes in schools, primary and middle education and in hospitals next month.

[03] DELAYS IN CUSTOMS DUE TO STRIKE

Long queues of trucks have formed at Greece's customs, thus many agricultural and other products are in danger of going off, due to the panhellenic strike of civil service's veterinarians and agriculturalists, which started on September 16.

Due to this long strike, all imports and exports of fresh fruit, vegetables, meat and other animal products have ceased, while there are no civil sector vets available to examine the animals at slaughterhouses. This event has caused immense problems, mainly to import and export businesses and industries, the owners of which made mention of products being ruined and orders being cancelled.

The agriculturalists and vets began their strike on September 16, demanding that their financial and institutional requests be satisfied, while it is unknown when they will end it.

Meanwhile, the Association of Exporters of Northern Greece has asked for the intervention of the Ministry of Agriculture and the Interior, so that a commonly accepted solution can be found in cooperation with the civil servants.

[04] PROFESSORS TO MEET WITH GOVERNMENT

University Professors are still keeping clear from their amphitheaters as we move into the second week of their mobilizations, the duration of which is still unknown, after staying out of classes for five days last week, demanding satisfaction of their financial demands.

Developments on the future of their strike are expected on Wednesday or Thursday, when the presidency of the Panhellenic Federation of Associations of University Teaching Staffs (DEP) will meet with Ministers of Finance Nikos Christodoulakis and Education Petros Efthymiou. However the government does not seem to be prepared to go higher than the 7% increase that it has already offered, which is nowhere near the 20% demand of university teaching staffs.

We are expecting a decision, said the President of the United DEP Association of the AUTh Dimitris Chasapis, we are expecting a more serious proposal from the government, while he added that even if an increase in university funding or the incorporation of the two benefits, teaching preparation and research, into the basic salary is proposed, we are prepared to return to our duty.

There is great danger of the finals' period being missed, however Mr. Chasapis gave his assurance that exams will be held for students near their graduation for those who have been called for their tour of duty.

[05] CHIEF OF ARMY STAFF IN CANADA

Chief of Army Staff General Giorgos Antonakopoulos, has been on an official visit to Canada since yesterday, after being invited by his Canadian counterpart, Ray Henault.

During his visit, which will end on September 27, Mr. Antonakopoulos will discuss issues of mutual military interest with Canada's military leadership, as well as ways to broaden Greek-Canadian military cooperation.

Also, his schedule includes a visit to peacekeeping mission training branch center, the General Staff of branch operations and the Naval Operations School of the Canadian Armed Forces.

[06] MAGRIOTIS-ROUSSOPOULOS CONFRONTATION

Now that ND has discovered the Hellenism of the Black Sea, better late than never, I hope it will help and support the initiatives of the Greek state and SAE (Council of Hellenes Abroad) for the Greeks of the Black Sea, stressed deputy Foreign Minister Ioannis Magriotis, drawing on the statements of ND President Costas Karamanlis at the inauguration of the Medical Center in Mariopol.

ND's response came from its Press Spokesperson Thodoris Roussopoulos, who proposed that Mr. Magriotis find other means of promotion, while the deputy Foreign Minister stated that it is New Democracy's problem, as it is the one that wants to promote itself through the work of others.

[07] EUROPEAN CAR FREE DAY

The European Day against the use of cars in city streets today, with the participation of 60 Greek cities among the 700 cities participating in special events. All major municipalities in Greece are participating and offering free public transportation. The seafront avenue will close down in Thessaloniki. Consumer organizations are encouraging citizens to use public transportation, which is a cheaper and faster alternative to using a car.

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