Macedonia's business community protests against Greek transport blockadesSkopje, 30 November 2011 (MIA) - Macedonia's business community sent a note of protest to international institutions, asking them to put an end to frequent transport blockades Greece has been setting at border crossings, thus bringing large financial loses to Macedonia and entire region.
The note, initiated by Association of Macedonian Enterprises for International Road Transport – AMERIT, is signed by Macedonian International Freight Forwarding and Logistics Operators Association (MIFA), Association of Independent Unions of Transporters of Republic of Macedonia 'MAKAMTRANS', Economic Chamber of Macedonia, Macedonian Chambers of Commerce, Economic Chamber of North-West Macedonia (ECNWM), Macedonian ICT Chamber of Commerce (MASIT) and German Macedonian Business Association (DMWV).
The note is being sent to the European Commission, Greek PM Lucas Papademos, UNECE, IRU, Greek Customs Administration, World Customs Organization, as well as relevant bodies of the World Trade Organization and the World Bank.
The note signatories express their understanding for the difficult situation in Greece due to the austerity measures, which stir up frequent strikes. Such activities, especially the ones at the three Macedonia-Greece border crossings, and the ones at Thessaloniki Port - Macedonia's main import-export artery - present a severe blow to Macedonia's economy and companies that suffer enormous loses.
The note also lists numerous international legal acts, being violated by Greek transport blockades, which 'hamper the free movement of people and goods.'
"Not only Macedonia's, but also the transport and economy of the entire Balkan region, suffers loses due to the Greek strikes and we fiercely protest against the blockades at border crossings," the note reads.
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