A bomb blast early Monday damaged a building in Athens housing the headquarters of Greece's private radio and television network Skai, but there were no casualties, police said.

Anti-terrorist police opened an investigation into the attack that focused on Greek extremist groups.

Attacks targeting broadcasting groups, public companies or embassies have been frequent in Greece in recent years, and have been blamed on anarchist or far-left groups.

The coalition government led by leftist Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras condemned the blast as &nbsp;"an attack on democracy".

The homemade device went off at around 2:30 am&nbsp;(0030 GMT), 45 minutes after an anonymous telephone warning to another TV network.

Police cordoned off the neighbourhood in the Athens suburb of Neo Phaliro and evacuated the building, which contains the offices of Skai, a group owned by the Alafouzos shipping family, as well as those of Kathimerini, a centre-right daily critical of the government.

Police said the bomb was placed near a fence around the building and smashed windows on the facade.

Skai said in a statement the blast caused "major damage".

"The terrorist attack will not discourage us..," it said, accusing the government of failing to do enough to protect the media despite "recurrent threats against the station."

The minister for civil protection, Olga Gerovassili, visited the site with police.

"The democracy is not threatened," she said, and warned those who "leave the way open to terrorism or fascism."

Last month a bomb was defused outside the Athens home of a controversial prosecutor.

A bomb blast early Monday damaged a building in Athens housing the headquarters of Greece's private radio and television network Skai, but there were no casualties, police said.

A bomb blast early Monday damaged a building in Athens housing the headquarters of Greece's private radio and television network Skai, but there were no casualties, police said. Anti-terrorist police opened an investigation into the attack that focused on Greek extremist groups. Attacks targeting broadcasting groups, public companies or embassies have been frequent in Greece in recent years, and have been blamed on anarchist or far-left groups. The coalition government led by leftist Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras condemned the blast as "an attack on democracy". The homemade device went off at around 2:30 am (0030 GMT), 45 minutes after an anonymous telephone warning to another TV network. Police cordoned off the neighbourhood in the Athens suburb of Neo Phaliro and evacuated the building, which contains the offices of Skai, a group owned by the Alafouzos shipping family, as well as those of Kathimerini, a centre-right daily critical of the government. Police said the bomb was placed near a fence around the building and smashed windows on the facade. Skai said in a statement the blast caused "major damage". "The terrorist attack will not discourage us..," it said, accusing the government of failing to do enough to protect the media despite "recurrent threats against the station." The minister for civil protection, Olga Gerovassili, visited the site with police. "The democracy is not threatened," she said, and warned those who "leave the way open to terrorism or fascism." Last month a bomb was defused outside the Athens home of a controversial prosecutor.

Bomb blast at Athens headquarters of media group

Turkey warned energy companies on Sunday against working with the Greek Cypriot government in carrying out exploratory drilling in the eastern Mediterranean, saying such activities could damage regional stability.

The eastern Mediterranean is believed to be rich in natural gas, and attempts to tap resources there have revived tensions between Turkey and Greece, which has a defence pact with the internationally recognised Greek Cypriot government.

Turkey and Cyprus have overlapping claims of marine jurisdiction and both plan to carry out exploratory drilling this year. Ankara has diplomatic relations only with a breakaway Turkish Cypriot state in the north of the island that no other country recognises.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Hami Aksoy said exploratory drilling by Exxon Mobil in the eastern Mediterranean with permission from the Greek Cypriot government did not help regional stability and would "upset some sensitive balances".

"We renew our warnings to companies participating in the Greek Cypriots` one-sided exploration and drilling. We remind them that sharing the natural resources of the island of Cyprus relates to the core of the Cyprus issue," Aksoy said in a statement.

"In addition to our own continental shelf, we will start carrying out activities in areas where the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus has given (state-run oil company) Turk Petrolleri a license," he said.

Last month, Turkey complained that a Greek frigate had hounded a Turkish exploration ship west of Cyprus. Greece denied the charge and Cyprus accused Turkey of stirring tension.

Breakaway north Cyprus, which is supported by Ankara, says any offshore wealth also belongs to its citizens, as partners in the establishment of the Republic of Cyprus in 1960.

The island was split in 1974 after a Turkish invasion triggered by a brief Greek-inspired coup.

Turkey warned energy companies on Sunday against working with the Greek Cypriot government in carrying out exploratory drilling in the eastern Mediterranean, saying such activities could damage regional stability.

Turkey warned energy companies on Sunday against working with the Greek Cypriot government in carrying out exploratory drilling in the eastern Mediterranean, saying such activities could damage regional stability. The eastern Mediterranean is believed to be rich in natural gas, and attempts to tap resources there have revived tensions between Turkey and Greece, which has a defence pact with the internationally recognised Greek Cypriot government. Turkey and Cyprus have overlapping claims of marine jurisdiction and both plan to carry out exploratory drilling this year. Ankara has diplomatic relations only with a breakaway Turkish Cypriot state in the north of the island that no other country recognises. Foreign Ministry spokesman Hami Aksoy said exploratory drilling by Exxon Mobil in the eastern Mediterranean with permission from the Greek Cypriot government did not help regional stability and would "upset some sensitive balances". "We renew our warnings to companies participating in the Greek Cypriots` one-sided exploration and drilling. We remind them that sharing the natural resources of the island of Cyprus relates to the core of the Cyprus issue," Aksoy said in a statement. "In addition to our own continental shelf, we will start carrying out activities in areas where the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus has given (state-run oil company) Turk Petrolleri a license," he said. Last month, Turkey complained that a Greek frigate had hounded a Turkish exploration ship west of Cyprus. Greece denied the charge and Cyprus accused Turkey of stirring tension. Breakaway north Cyprus, which is supported by Ankara, says any offshore wealth also belongs to its citizens, as partners in the establishment of the Republic of Cyprus in 1960. The island was split in 1974 after a Turkish invasion triggered by a brief Greek-inspired coup.

Turkey warns companies against energy exploration with Greek Cypriot govt

Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras accepted the resignation of his foreign minister on Wednesday, Greece's first major political casualty in a crusade to end a decades-old name dispute with Macedonia.

Tsipras has said he will do whatever is required to ensure an agreement reached in June to rename the neighbouring country 'Republic of North Macedonia' gets implemented.

But the accord has faced opposition on both sides of the border, and Tsipras' Foreign Minister Nikos Kotzias and Defence Minister Panos Kammenos clashed over it in cabinet on Tuesday. "They are both explosive characters," a witness told Reuters.

Kotzias, a strong supporter of the accord who was Greece's main negotiator in the talks that led to it, submitted his resignation on Wednesday.

Kammenos, whose small right-wing party is propping up Tsipras' fragile coalition government, views the deal as a national sell-out.

Warning against further dissent, the prime minister said he would take over the foreign affairs portfolio himself.

"It is a decision not to tolerate, from now on, any double-speak from anyone, or any personal agenda (against) ...the national line," he said in a televised statement, without elaborating.

Tsipras, whose left-wing Syriza party is trailing badly ahead of national elections due next year, is hoping a successful name change deal - a precondition for Greece to lift its veto on Macedonia joining the EU and NATO - will help boost his political standing abroad.

The June accord delighted the west in a region where it jostles for influence with Moscow. Two Russian diplomats were expelled from Greece that same month under Kotzias's watch, accused of trying to foment opposition to the deal.

Greece has insisted on the change because it views the name 'Macedonia' as implying a territorial claim on a northern Greek region of that name.

But the accord is still far from settled.

It is awaiting approval from both countries' parliaments and, though Macedonians backed the name changed in a referendum last month, just 37 percent turned out to vote - too few for the result to be valid.

Kammenos has threatened to quit the coalition if it is put before parliament.

During Tuesday's fractious cabinet meeting, Tsipras asked his ministers to put their difference aside and back him if a no confidence vote was called by the main opposition.

In a colourful tweet following his resignation, Kotzias spouted poetry. "They wanted to bury me deep, but forgot I was a seed."

Earlier on Wednesday, government spokesman Dimitris Tzanakopoulos compared the government to a train that had a clear direction and would reach its destination. "If anyone ...feels frustrated, he can just get off."

Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras accepted the resignation of his foreign minister on Wednesday, Greece's first major political casualty in a crusade to end a decades-old name dispute with Macedonia.

Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras accepted the resignation of his foreign minister on Wednesday, Greece's first major political casualty in a crusade to end a decades-old name dispute with Macedonia. Tsipras has said he will do whatever is required to ensure an agreement reached in June to rename the neighbouring country 'Republic of North Macedonia' gets implemented. But the accord has faced opposition on both sides of the border, and Tsipras' Foreign Minister Nikos Kotzias and Defence Minister Panos Kammenos clashed over it in cabinet on Tuesday. "They are both explosive characters," a witness told Reuters. Kotzias, a strong supporter of the accord who was Greece's main negotiator in the talks that led to it, submitted his resignation on Wednesday. Kammenos, whose small right-wing party is propping up Tsipras' fragile coalition government, views the deal as a national sell-out. Warning against further dissent, the prime minister said he would take over the foreign affairs portfolio himself. "It is a decision not to tolerate, from now on, any double-speak from anyone, or any personal agenda (against) ...the national line," he said in a televised statement, without elaborating. Tsipras, whose left-wing Syriza party is trailing badly ahead of national elections due next year, is hoping a successful name change deal - a precondition for Greece to lift its veto on Macedonia joining the EU and NATO - will help boost his political standing abroad. The June accord delighted the west in a region where it jostles for influence with Moscow. Two Russian diplomats were expelled from Greece that same month under Kotzias's watch, accused of trying to foment opposition to the deal. Greece has insisted on the change because it views the name 'Macedonia' as implying a territorial claim on a northern Greek region of that name. But the accord is still far from settled. It is awaiting approval from both countries' parliaments and, though Macedonians backed the name changed in a referendum last month, just 37 percent turned out to vote - too few for the result to be valid. Kammenos has threatened to quit the coalition if it is put before parliament. During Tuesday's fractious cabinet meeting, Tsipras asked his ministers to put their difference aside and back him if a no confidence vote was called by the main opposition. In a colourful tweet following his resignation, Kotzias spouted poetry. "They wanted to bury me deep, but forgot I was a seed." Earlier on Wednesday, government spokesman Dimitris Tzanakopoulos compared the government to a train that had a clear direction and would reach its destination. "If anyone ...feels frustrated, he can just get off."

Greek foreign minister quits in Macedonia name row

Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras was accused&nbsp;on Wednesday&nbsp;of surrendering part of his nation's identity, as a deal he struck to settle a name dispute with Macedonia prompted a barrage of criticism from opposition politicians and media.

Under the agreement announced by Athens and Skopje&nbsp;on Tuesday, the Balkan state known as Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia" would henceforth be called the "Republic of Northern Macedonia".

The accord would open the way for the small nation's eventual membership of the European Union and NATO, currently blocked by Greece's objections to its current name.

But conservative opposition leader Kyriakos Mitsotakis called it "deeply problematic", because the majority of Greeks were against it and Tsipras lacked the political legitimacy to sign it.

"We are in a situation that is unprecedented in Greece's constitutional history. A prime minister without a clear parliamentary mandate willing to commit the country to a reality which will not be possible to change," Mitsotakis said.

The accord requires ratification by both countries' parliaments, and the junior partner in Greece's coalition, the right wing Independent Greeks party, has said it does not back any deal that gives away the name Macedonia.

That chimes in with the view of many ordinary Greeks, who feel the name implies territorial claims on a northern Greek province of the same name, the birthplace of national hero Alexander the Great.

The name dispute has soured bilateral relations since 1991, when Greece's northern neighbour declared its independence from former Yugoslavia under the name Republic of Macedonia.

In a front-page editorial conservative daily Eleftheros Typos called the agreement "the surrender of the Macedonian identity and language," while centre-right Kathimerini referred to "a deal with gaps and question marks".

Responding to the conservatives, Deputy Foreign Minister George Katrougkalos said the deal would put an end to the perpetuation of the name Macedonia as an identifier for the Balkan state.

"If they believe this (that the government does not have the legitimacy), they have the means ... to question it with a no-confidence motion. Why aren't they doing it?" Katrougkalos told Greek Skai TV.

Centre-left daily Ta Nea newspaper said that, while the historian of the future would have the luxury of time to assess the deal, "until then one must keep in mind that there are no compromises without concessions."

Activist group The Committee for The Hellenic Identity of Macedonia said it would organise protests in Athens and northern Greece if the deal went ahead and urged lawmakers not to ratify it.

"We peacefully assert that they have no right to sign (a deal) against Greek people's will," they wrote on Facebook.

Mikis Theodorakis, who composed the music to the film 'Zorba the Greek', said the agreement would "stigmatise us forever" if it went ahead.

'We peacefully assert that they have no right to sign (a deal) against Greek people's will,' they wrote on Facebook

Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras was accused on Wednesday of surrendering part of his nation's identity, as a deal he struck to settle a name dispute with Macedonia prompted a barrage of criticism from opposition politicians and media. Under the agreement announced by Athens and Skopje on Tuesday, the Balkan state known as Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia" would henceforth be called the "Republic of Northern Macedonia". The accord would open the way for the small nation's eventual membership of the European Union and NATO, currently blocked by Greece's objections to its current name. But conservative opposition leader Kyriakos Mitsotakis called it "deeply problematic", because the majority of Greeks were against it and Tsipras lacked the political legitimacy to sign it. "We are in a situation that is unprecedented in Greece's constitutional history. A prime minister without a clear parliamentary mandate willing to commit the country to a reality which will not be possible to change," Mitsotakis said. The accord requires ratification by both countries' parliaments, and the junior partner in Greece's coalition, the right wing Independent Greeks party, has said it does not back any deal that gives away the name Macedonia. That chimes in with the view of many ordinary Greeks, who feel the name implies territorial claims on a northern Greek province of the same name, the birthplace of national hero Alexander the Great. The name dispute has soured bilateral relations since 1991, when Greece's northern neighbour declared its independence from former Yugoslavia under the name Republic of Macedonia. In a front-page editorial conservative daily Eleftheros Typos called the agreement "the surrender of the Macedonian identity and language," while centre-right Kathimerini referred to "a deal with gaps and question marks". Responding to the conservatives, Deputy Foreign Minister George Katrougkalos said the deal would put an end to the perpetuation of the name Macedonia as an identifier for the Balkan state. "If they believe this (that the government does not have the legitimacy), they have the means ... to question it with a no-confidence motion. Why aren't they doing it?" Katrougkalos told Greek Skai TV. Centre-left daily Ta Nea newspaper said that, while the historian of the future would have the luxury of time to assess the deal, "until then one must keep in mind that there are no compromises without concessions." Activist group The Committee for The Hellenic Identity of Macedonia said it would organise protests in Athens and northern Greece if the deal went ahead and urged lawmakers not to ratify it. "We peacefully assert that they have no right to sign (a deal) against Greek people's will," they wrote on Facebook. Mikis Theodorakis, who composed the music to the film 'Zorba the Greek', said the agreement would "stigmatise us forever" if it went ahead.

Greek PM faces domestic backlash over Macedonia name deal

A Greek appeals court on Friday rejected a Turkish demand for the handover of eight Turkish soldiers accused by Ankara of having played a direct role in the abortive coup against President Tayyip Erdogan in 2016.

It was the third extradition request Greek courts have refused, an issue which has further strained relations between the long uneasy NATO allies. The Greek court said it had concerns the eight would not face a fair trial in Turkey.

The group fled to Greece in a helicopter on July 16, 2016, as the coup attempt against Erdogan crumbled. Turkey says they are traitors and coup plotters.

In a unanimous decision, the Athens-based Court of Appeal rejected Turkey&#39;s extradition request, filed on the basis of eight charges the soldiers face in their country.

Those charges included involvement in the coup, attempted murder, participation in an armed terrorist group, military desertion and theft of military material.

In its verdict, the court said the charges were vague and had introduced no new elements to materially sway earlier verdicts.

&quot;In each case, there are valid concerns about an unfair trial, and the risk of facing torture and humiliating behaviour,&quot; a court official said, citing the verdict.

The decision can be appealed.

It was the third extradition request Greek courts have refused

A Greek appeals court on Friday rejected a Turkish demand for the handover of eight Turkish soldiers accused by Ankara of having played a direct role in the abortive coup against President Tayyip Erdogan in 2016. It was the third extradition request Greek courts have refused, an issue which has further strained relations between the long uneasy NATO allies. The Greek court said it had concerns the eight would not face a fair trial in Turkey. The group fled to Greece in a helicopter on July 16, 2016, as the coup attempt against Erdogan crumbled. Turkey says they are traitors and coup plotters. In a unanimous decision, the Athens-based Court of Appeal rejected Turkey's extradition request, filed on the basis of eight charges the soldiers face in their country. Those charges included involvement in the coup, attempted murder, participation in an armed terrorist group, military desertion and theft of military material. In its verdict, the court said the charges were vague and had introduced no new elements to materially sway earlier verdicts. "In each case, there are valid concerns about an unfair trial, and the risk of facing torture and humiliating behaviour," a court official said, citing the verdict. The decision can be appealed.

Greek court rejects Turkey's request for extradition of eight soldiers

Call it the law of unintended consequences. A measure to save Greece from the abyss of a default and crashing out of the eurozone now holds its economy in a stranglehold, preventing its recovery. 
 
Cast back a year: the standoff between the Greek government of Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras and the EU and IMF over the terms of a new rescue plan for the country was reaching breaking point. 
 
The talks on a third bailout had been going nowhere since Tsipras took power in January after sweeping elections on an anti-austerity platform, and the EU and IMF warned the country&#39;s place in the eurozone was at risk if it didn&#39;t accept more spending cuts and tax hikes. 
 
Meanwhile, Greeks had been taking out more and more of their savings out of banks, with 20 per cent gone when during the night of June 26 to 27 Tsipras shocked the world by announcing he would put the bailout conditions to a referendum vote. 
 
In order to prevent a run on banks, Greece imposed capital controls, limiting cash withdrawals to 420 Euros ($465) per week. 
 
The restriction is still in place, and it&#39;s having a long-term impact on the economy. 
 
Consumption was down 1.3 per cent in the first quarter of this year compared with the same period in 2015, even though prices have been falling in Greece. 
 
Overall, the Greek economy, which had begun growing again at the end of 2014, shrank by 1.4 per cent in the first quarter of 2016. 
 
&#39;Who has 420 Euros?&#39; 
 
For many Greeks, the 420-Euro weekly limit was not too much of a brake on spending as they had already been progressively tightening their belts since Greece&#39;s first 110-billion-Euro international bailout in 2010. 
 
&quot;Families have cut their expenses so much these past years of the crisis that it didn&#39;t really create a problem ... who now has more than 420 Euros per week to spend?&quot; said Dimitris Sotiropoulos, a draftsman and father of three children. 
 
However, the impact has been greater on businesses, as trade figures show: imports plunged by 12.8 per cent and exports by 11.7 per cent. 
 
The controls, which hampered the ability to import goods and conduct business abroad, added to the &quot;tax pressure and collapse of the social security system&quot; of recent years, said Thanassis Kalabalikis, president of the Athens manufacturers&#39; federation. 
 
&quot;Small entrepreneurs, who before the crisis were the backbone of the Greek economy, had already taken a blow from seven years of recession, and capital controls just added to the sluggishness,&quot; he said. 
 
Some 26,000 Greek businesses of all sizes have shut their doors since capital controls were introduced. 
 
For Panayiotis Petrakis, an economics professor at the University of Athens, &quot;limitations on the free flow of capital and the lack of liquidity are preventing the recovery of the economy and don&#39;t encourage confidence among investors.&quot; 
 
Greece finally clinched the 86-billion-Euro bailout at the end of July, helping to bring back a certain amount of economic stability, including by a recapitalisation of its battered banks at the end of the year. 
 
Low prices, black market 
 
The Greek government has relaxed the capital controls in recent months, in particular allowing higher withdrawals on funds returned from abroad. 
 
A commission is also in place to examine requests from businesses and individuals for transactions above transfer limits. 
 
However, experts worry that capital controls could remain in place to the end of the year, or even to mid-2017, given the experience of fellow Eurozone member Cyprus which took two years to lift capital controls it imposed during the height of its crisis in 2013. 
 
Louka Katseli, a former economy minister who now is the board chairwoman at the private lender National Bank of Greece, is among those who believes the capital controls will be lifted later rather than sooner. 
 
For that, she believes that three conditions need to be met: there are effective incentives for funds to return to the country, the problem of dodgy loans on bank balance sheets has been resolved, and most importantly Greece that receives a positive evaluation from its international creditors in a review later this year. 
 
The only advantage of the capital controls has been to encourage Greeks to use other means of payments when they can: bank transfers and card payments inside the country were not restricted. 
 
That would help reduce problematic tax evasion, if more Greek businesses install card terminals. 
 
&quot;People have adapted but not businesses, as the installation of card terminals has been a headache, because in addition to many bank commissions many indebted companies are in such a terrible state they don&#39;t have the right to install them,&quot; said Kalabalikis. 
 
The result has been, according to Sotiropoulos, that &quot;prices have fallen even more and fostered the black market&quot; as businesses are inclined &quot;to offer considerable discounts to get sales by not issuing a receipt and dodging the tax payments&quot;. 
 
(AFP)

To prevent a run on banks Greece limited cash withdrawals to 420 Euros per week, which is having a long-term impact on the economy

Call it the law of unintended consequences. A measure to save Greece from the abyss of a default and crashing out of the eurozone now holds its economy in a stranglehold, preventing its recovery. Cast back a year: the standoff between the Greek government of Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras and the EU and IMF over the terms of a new rescue plan for the country was reaching breaking point. The talks on a third bailout had been going nowhere since Tsipras took power in January after sweeping elections on an anti-austerity platform, and the EU and IMF warned the country's place in the eurozone was at risk if it didn't accept more spending cuts and tax hikes. Meanwhile, Greeks had been taking out more and more of their savings out of banks, with 20 per cent gone when during the night of June 26 to 27 Tsipras shocked the world by announcing he would put the bailout conditions to a referendum vote. In order to prevent a run on banks, Greece imposed capital controls, limiting cash withdrawals to 420 Euros ($465) per week. The restriction is still in place, and it's having a long-term impact on the economy. Consumption was down 1.3 per cent in the first quarter of this year compared with the same period in 2015, even though prices have been falling in Greece. Overall, the Greek economy, which had begun growing again at the end of 2014, shrank by 1.4 per cent in the first quarter of 2016. 'Who has 420 Euros?' For many Greeks, the 420-Euro weekly limit was not too much of a brake on spending as they had already been progressively tightening their belts since Greece's first 110-billion-Euro international bailout in 2010. "Families have cut their expenses so much these past years of the crisis that it didn't really create a problem ... who now has more than 420 Euros per week to spend?" said Dimitris Sotiropoulos, a draftsman and father of three children. However, the impact has been greater on businesses, as trade figures show: imports plunged by 12.8 per cent and exports by 11.7 per cent. The controls, which hampered the ability to import goods and conduct business abroad, added to the "tax pressure and collapse of the social security system" of recent years, said Thanassis Kalabalikis, president of the Athens manufacturers' federation. "Small entrepreneurs, who before the crisis were the backbone of the Greek economy, had already taken a blow from seven years of recession, and capital controls just added to the sluggishness," he said. Some 26,000 Greek businesses of all sizes have shut their doors since capital controls were introduced. For Panayiotis Petrakis, an economics professor at the University of Athens, "limitations on the free flow of capital and the lack of liquidity are preventing the recovery of the economy and don't encourage confidence among investors." Greece finally clinched the 86-billion-Euro bailout at the end of July, helping to bring back a certain amount of economic stability, including by a recapitalisation of its battered banks at the end of the year. Low prices, black market The Greek government has relaxed the capital controls in recent months, in particular allowing higher withdrawals on funds returned from abroad. A commission is also in place to examine requests from businesses and individuals for transactions above transfer limits. However, experts worry that capital controls could remain in place to the end of the year, or even to mid-2017, given the experience of fellow Eurozone member Cyprus which took two years to lift capital controls it imposed during the height of its crisis in 2013. Louka Katseli, a former economy minister who now is the board chairwoman at the private lender National Bank of Greece, is among those who believes the capital controls will be lifted later rather than sooner. For that, she believes that three conditions need to be met: there are effective incentives for funds to return to the country, the problem of dodgy loans on bank balance sheets has been resolved, and most importantly Greece that receives a positive evaluation from its international creditors in a review later this year. The only advantage of the capital controls has been to encourage Greeks to use other means of payments when they can: bank transfers and card payments inside the country were not restricted. That would help reduce problematic tax evasion, if more Greek businesses install card terminals. "People have adapted but not businesses, as the installation of card terminals has been a headache, because in addition to many bank commissions many indebted companies are in such a terrible state they don't have the right to install them," said Kalabalikis. The result has been, according to Sotiropoulos, that "prices have fallen even more and fostered the black market" as businesses are inclined "to offer considerable discounts to get sales by not issuing a receipt and dodging the tax payments". (AFP)

For Greeks, emergency economic measures feed today's crisis

greek

Greek, News on Greek, stories on Greek, articles on Greek, Greek stories at Wion, Greek news, Greek latest news