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Immediate suspension of the concession rendering contract for 35 years for platforms 2 and 3 of Pieria port to the Chinese company COSCO, is the opinion of Giorgos Georgakopoulos Port Workers Union in Greece president. He called for the government to immediately stop its contact with the Pieria port administration, which according to him is to blame for the privatization of both platforms.

Basically this is strengthening the positions of the port’s workers, who are on strike for a 12^th day. Until now they were only insisting on reviewing some of the clauses of the concession contract. Georgakopoulos openly threatened to continue the strike for indefinite time. The socialist government has not yet officially reacted to the strike. Information from different sources claim that there are lively discussion about the problem between PM Georgios Papandreou, the minister of economy, development and trade fleet Luka Katzeli, minister of finances Georgios Papakonstantinou and internal affairs minister Yannis Rankouzis.

It seems that Luka Katzeli has gathered all the critics from her colleagues about the way she reacted to the strike. For now the only official information from the government is that the first goal is the immediate suspension of the strike and starting negotiations for re-contracting some of the conditions of the concession, which is considered to be a very hard goal to execute. Right now over 7000 containers with over 250 000 tons of goods are waiting at the Pieria port to reach the market and another 6 000 containers are expecting customs check. Traders are redirecting their merchandise through other ports, which are further away and this way their expenses increase. Many of the fresh products are going bad and traders warn that they will bear losses as well.

Dora Bakoyanni, candidate with most chances of winner the leadership position in New Democracy, expressed her criticism, which the government has still not done. “During the pre-election campaign I warned many times that irresponsible words have consequences when a party needs to govern. I feel sorry that what is happening is confirming my words,” says an official statement by Mrs. Bakoyanni. She reminds that the strike started as a result of the irresponsible statements by PASOK leaders for re-negotiating the concession conditions of both platforms. “Exactly those leaders are to blame for the 12 day strike, for the possibility of it transferring to Lavrio and Elefsina ports, for all losses which the Pieria port needs to bear because of redirecting ships abroad, for the supply problems caused to the market, for the first disagreements within the government and most importantly for violating the trust of Greek investors,” said Dora Bakoyanni.