Galery

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Only 24 hours passed since the beginning of the farmers’ protests blockages of the roads also started. The worst is the situation on the Athens – Thessaloniki highway where the farmers’ blockages along with the closing of the Tembi passage due to landslides seriously increased the time for traveling between the two largest Greek cities. No matter in which direction the drivers are heading they have to be patient and to expect great delays. At the blocked areas the traffic passes through a roundabout roads, however the traffic police is at the location in order to assist the traffic.

In Saturday, January 16^th in the afternoon there are blockages on the roads at Kastro and Alamana in the Viotia region, at Kerdlilia close to Serres and at Chrysoupoli close to Kavala. Earlier during the day the farmers decided to postpone for right now the blockage of the Thessaloniki – Serres road. Around 50 tractors of olives producers are standing ready on the road Thessaloniki – Nea Mudania. Tractors have settled also on the Egnatia highway close to Kastoria and at the frontier posts Dojran with Macedonia and Promachonas with Bulgaria. In the Evros region the farmers have placed their machines around two other frontier posts – Ormenio with Bulgaria and Kipon with Turkey and also in the Kornofolia area. Tomorrow, Sunday they will decide whether to start the blockages there as well.  

Again tomorrow, Sunday, 17.01 are gathering the farmers from Prespa at the border at Kristalopigis. From Monday the farmers in Larissa and from Thessaly region will also take part in the protests. Part of them who are voters of the Communist party in Greece will go out on the road at Nikis with the intention to block this road which means greater traffic jams for the ones traveling through the Tembi passage. On Wednesday will start the protest of the farmers from Tembi who have not yet stated their intentions.

Minister of rural development Katerina Batzeli who is currently visiting the region said that the doors of the ministry are opened for a dialog, however it is impossible to meet all the requirements of the farmers.