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GREECE GENERAL STRIKE BEGINS OVER SPENDING CUTS
ARMENPRESS
OCTOBER 19, 2011
YEREVAN
A general strike is under way in Greece, grounding flights, halting
most public services and shutting offices and shops.
The 48-hour strike comes as parliament prepares to vote on the latest
round of austerity measures, including more tax hikes, pay cuts and
job losses.
Tens of thousands have gathered in Athens to protest, amid tight
security.
Greece is struggling to reduce a huge government deficit amid fears
it may default and set off a eurozone crisis.
The EU and IMF have demanded tough cuts in return for two bailouts.
The pace of protests in Greece has been increasing for several weeks,
with lightning strikes across virtually every sector of the economy.
Sending a messageThe strike for Wednesday and Thursday has been called
by the two big unions that cover public and private sector workers.
Government departments, businesses, offices and stores have all shut,
with small business owners and shopkeepers taking part in strike
action for the first time.
Air traffic controllers are staging a 12-hour walk-out, with some
150 domestic and international flights cancelled. Trains, buses,
taxis and lorries are not operating.
A strike over recent days by rubbish collectors has left uncollected
waste piling in the streets. Tourists were turned away from the
Acropolis.
"We are going to send a loud message to the government and the
political system," said Costas Tsikrikas, the head of the public
workers' union Adedy.
More than 70,000 people have begun marching in Syntagma Square in
central Athens, police said, with another 15,000 reportedly turning
out in the second city of Thessaloniki.
"Take the memorandum and get out," read one sign in Athens, referring
to the EU and IMF bailout.
One striker, university lecturer Yannis Zabetakis, told the BBC:
"We are now living in a taxation Armageddon and the economy is dying.
Along with the economy, we are dying. The austerity measures are not
working and our best people are being forced to go abroad."
Some 3,000 police officers have been deployed around the capital,
with extra riot police outside parliament, which saw major clashes
during a strike in June.
One police source told Agence France-Presse news agency a motorcycle
patrol was attacked in the capital's Kaisiariani district, with one
officer hurt.
Hundreds of dock workers have gathered at the main port of Piraeus,
while hundreds of prison guards protested outside the justice ministry.
Legislators are voting on two bills on Wednesday and Thursday.
They include measures for higher taxes, further cuts to pensions and
salaries and the suspension of collective labour agreements.
They will also suspend 30,000 public servants on reduced pay and
introduce a new civil service salary system.
Prime Minister George Papandreou's Pasok party has a four-seat
majority but some of his backbenchers have threatened to vote against
the measures.
Late on Tuesday, Mr Papandreou appealed to his MPs for support.
"We must persevere in this war as people, as a government, as a
parliamentary group in order for the country to win it," he said.
Greece finds itself with rising unemployment and a stalled economy,
with a government debt that is 162% of its gross domestic product.
The long-term bond markets have shut Greece out over fears that it
can no longer meet its debt obligations.
The EU and the IMF have stepped in with two rescue packages but the
second has not been finalised.
Meanwhile, Greece says it needs the next $11bn (£7bn; 8bn euros)
instalment from the first package of bailout loans agreed last year
or it will run out of money to pay its bills in November.
As part of the second bailout agreed to in July, Greece's creditors
agreed to a 21% loss - or "haircut" - on their loans to Athens,
but there are suggestions this may not be enough.
With fears the problems besetting Athens might spread to other highly
indebted eurozone countries such as Spain and Italy, EU leaders
meeting this weekend are scrambling to forge a plan that will protect
the region from a Greek default.
Measures could include propping up banks exposed to Greek debt and
enlarging the eurozone's rescue fund.
ARMENPRESS
OCTOBER 19, 2011
YEREVAN
A general strike is under way in Greece, grounding flights, halting
most public services and shutting offices and shops.
The 48-hour strike comes as parliament prepares to vote on the latest
round of austerity measures, including more tax hikes, pay cuts and
job losses.
Tens of thousands have gathered in Athens to protest, amid tight
security.
Greece is struggling to reduce a huge government deficit amid fears
it may default and set off a eurozone crisis.
The EU and IMF have demanded tough cuts in return for two bailouts.
The pace of protests in Greece has been increasing for several weeks,
with lightning strikes across virtually every sector of the economy.
Sending a messageThe strike for Wednesday and Thursday has been called
by the two big unions that cover public and private sector workers.
Government departments, businesses, offices and stores have all shut,
with small business owners and shopkeepers taking part in strike
action for the first time.
Air traffic controllers are staging a 12-hour walk-out, with some
150 domestic and international flights cancelled. Trains, buses,
taxis and lorries are not operating.
A strike over recent days by rubbish collectors has left uncollected
waste piling in the streets. Tourists were turned away from the
Acropolis.
"We are going to send a loud message to the government and the
political system," said Costas Tsikrikas, the head of the public
workers' union Adedy.
More than 70,000 people have begun marching in Syntagma Square in
central Athens, police said, with another 15,000 reportedly turning
out in the second city of Thessaloniki.
"Take the memorandum and get out," read one sign in Athens, referring
to the EU and IMF bailout.
One striker, university lecturer Yannis Zabetakis, told the BBC:
"We are now living in a taxation Armageddon and the economy is dying.
Along with the economy, we are dying. The austerity measures are not
working and our best people are being forced to go abroad."
Some 3,000 police officers have been deployed around the capital,
with extra riot police outside parliament, which saw major clashes
during a strike in June.
One police source told Agence France-Presse news agency a motorcycle
patrol was attacked in the capital's Kaisiariani district, with one
officer hurt.
Hundreds of dock workers have gathered at the main port of Piraeus,
while hundreds of prison guards protested outside the justice ministry.
Legislators are voting on two bills on Wednesday and Thursday.
They include measures for higher taxes, further cuts to pensions and
salaries and the suspension of collective labour agreements.
They will also suspend 30,000 public servants on reduced pay and
introduce a new civil service salary system.
Prime Minister George Papandreou's Pasok party has a four-seat
majority but some of his backbenchers have threatened to vote against
the measures.
Late on Tuesday, Mr Papandreou appealed to his MPs for support.
"We must persevere in this war as people, as a government, as a
parliamentary group in order for the country to win it," he said.
Greece finds itself with rising unemployment and a stalled economy,
with a government debt that is 162% of its gross domestic product.
The long-term bond markets have shut Greece out over fears that it
can no longer meet its debt obligations.
The EU and the IMF have stepped in with two rescue packages but the
second has not been finalised.
Meanwhile, Greece says it needs the next $11bn (£7bn; 8bn euros)
instalment from the first package of bailout loans agreed last year
or it will run out of money to pay its bills in November.
As part of the second bailout agreed to in July, Greece's creditors
agreed to a 21% loss - or "haircut" - on their loans to Athens,
but there are suggestions this may not be enough.
With fears the problems besetting Athens might spread to other highly
indebted eurozone countries such as Spain and Italy, EU leaders
meeting this weekend are scrambling to forge a plan that will protect
the region from a Greek default.
Measures could include propping up banks exposed to Greek debt and
enlarging the eurozone's rescue fund.