GREECE: Greek military protesters say morale down due to austerity cuts.

Record ID: 713999

  • Title: GREECE: Greek military protesters say morale down due to austerity cuts.
  • Date: 12th September 2012
  • Summary: ATHENS, GREECE (SEPTEMBER 12, 2012) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF ARMY, NAVY AND AIRFORCE OFFICERS IN UNIFORM AT PROTEST IN FRONT OF GREECE'S FIRST PARLIAMENT BUILDING STATUE OF THEODORE KOLOKOTRONI, GREEK HERO OF INDEPENDENCE, WITH BANNER BENEATH VARIOUS OF AIRFORCE OFFICERS AT PROTEST (SOUNDBITE) (Greek) AIR FORCE SQUADRON LEADER, SERAFEIM DOULIAS, SAYING: "One of the major t
  • Embargoed: 27th September 2012 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Greece
  • Country: Greece
  • Topics: Economy,Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA42TS5GTND6HGRFIO9UVMNNLE2
  • Story Text: The Greek armed forces say austerity cuts are bringing down the morale of the troops as the army, navy and air force hold a joint protest outside the finance ministry as the troika meets inside.

    Greek army, navy and air force officers donned their uniforms and took part in protest on Wednesday (September 12) to battle austerity measures that will include cuts in their wages.
    In a rarely seen protest, the officers and soldiers from the three military groups marched together to the finance ministry, where the inspectors of the European Union (EU), the European Central Bank (ECB) and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) were meeting with Finance Minister Yannis Stournaras.
    The officers said they are expecting wage cuts from at least six percent and have already suffered benefit and wage cuts since the crisis began in 2010.
    Greece's defence budget was 2.2 billion euros in 2009 and had been cut to 1.5 billion euros in 2011.
    Air Force Squadron leader Serafeim Doulias said the cutbacks have hurt morale.
    "One of the major things is the issue of morale. Morale has fallen greatly and something needs to be done about this. We are trying, we love our country, we have served it and will continue to serve it, but we are under a great deal of pressure and the problem is great."
    "The job of a soldier is to safeguard the national security of a country, but when a soldier goes to his unit in the morning and has on his mind all of the problems of the night before he discussed with his family -- such as the children or his wife in need of this or that -- tell me if he could go and work as a soldier should work, as Greek citizens would want him to work? I am telling you, he cannot, because on his mind is not what his goal is, but what he has to deal with when he leaves the military base," said Army Lieutenant Colonel Anestis Tsoukarakis.
    "The military is being degraded -- soldiers are being degraded -- with all these measures," said Navy Commodore Stamatis Kaloyiannis.
    Greece is hoping to save 517 million from defence spending in the latest round of budget cuts.
    As the officers protested outside the Finance Ministry, the troika met inside to finalise the cuts package, worth nearly 12 billion euros.
    A group of about 10 protesters, including army, air force and navy soldiers, as well as coast guards, police officers, and firemen, broke off and entered the ministry to speak with finance ministry officials to express their opposition to the cuts. When they came down after speaking with officials, they stood in front of the doors of the building as the troika was leaving.
    "We are not numbers" shouted one coast guard at IMF Troika official Poul Thomsen as he was entering his car to leave, while a fireman shouted: "We are people too."
    A senior Greek government official said the troika and finance minister made progress during their talks, but did not provide any details.
    EU and IMF officials said the talks with Greece's finance minister were constructive.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2012. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
Register