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Athens Macedonian News Agency: News in English, 16-12-09
CONTENTS
[01] Financial assistance pledged by PM will be covered by surplus of
the 2016 budget, says minister
[02] Shipping minister says will exhaust every opportunity for dialog
with seamen's union on strike
[01] Financial assistance pledged by PM will be covered by surplus of
the 2016 budget, says minister
The 617 million euros announced as an additional financial assistance
for low-income pensioners by Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras on Thursday
evening will be given from the 2.44-billion-euro surplus on the 2016
budget, Deputy Finance Minister Katerina Papanatsiou said in parliament,
during a debate on the 2017 budget.
[02] Shipping minister says will exhaust every opportunity for dialog
with seamen's union on strike
Shipping Minister Panagiotis Kouroumplis said on Friday he will exhaust
all opportunities for dialog with the Greek seamen's federation in a
bid to end their more than week-long strike, but rejected the option
of civil mobilization.
Speaking to private TV station ANT1, the minister said "the government
cannot abandon the islands to their fate, especially those that do not
have airports" and reiterated the assurances of Finance Minister Euclid
Tsakalotos that the seamen's taxation will not change.
He also said he might convene the Council of Island Policy, as requested
by the opposition, but added that he doubted their stance will change.
The seamen's union PNO on Thursday decided to extend ongoing labour
mobilisations with another 48-hour strike beginning at 06:00 on Friday
and ending on Sunday morning. The strike has left ships moored in their
docks and islands without transport and essential supplies throughout
the past week.
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