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Greek farmers are ready once again to block the main roads of Greece, on Monday the seventh of January 2011. Agricultural association of Ceres Municipality first announced it was considering blocking the road that leads to the border with Bulgaria, Promahonas-Kulata. The angry farmers from Greek Macedonia and Thrace will also participate in the protest. With tractors placed at least three places - at the level of Magalara, at Chalcedon and before Yannitsa is expected to wake up one of the largest Greek highways Egnatia. The road before the entry of Thessaloniki is also expected to be blocked, as well as the road around Florina. According to the initial information blockades will be a total of 16, but the final decision will be announced following the meeting of farmers' unions this weekend.

The main requirements of agricultural workers are for the government to provide them non-taxed diesel for agricultural activities as well as to receive compensation for damage caused by natural forces in previous years. It seems that Greek farmers feel threatened by the competition in the agricultural goods sector from neighboring Balkan countries, as they require that the government reduce their mass import.

All their requests were presented in details before the Minister of Rural Development Minister Costas Skandalidis at the end of this week at a business meeting in Thessaloniki. The Minister in turn failed to give them a specific response to the development on the topics set by them. This led to the decision of the farmers that they will block Greece once again until their demands are met. "A provision in the Memorandum of financial assistance provides for the equalizing of the prices of the heating oils with those for fuel. If this happens, the government will try to fight for the proposal to return the tax paid on petroleum, so as to facilitate the work of the farmers", said noncommittally Skandalidis after the meeting.

Once farmers realized that the government is not ready to respond immediately to the set by them requirements, they decided to announce the beginning of the blockades. Expect further information on Monday the seventh of February.