PM Samaras visits Sindos, holds talk with sugar beet farmers

In statements to the ANA-MPA, the head of the Serres sugar beet exporters union Christos Varoutis said that they had raised the issue of outstanding payments of 18 million euros owed to sugar beet farmers by EBZ, the Hellenic Sugar Industry.

"Mr. Samaras spoke on the phone with members of the government and technocrats on the spot, asking them to settle the issue of the debts within the day," Varoutis said. After their talks, Samaras promised sugar beet producers that a solution to the outstanding debt of 18 million euros to 4,000 beet producers will be found by Wednesday night.

Varoutis said he was tentatively optimistic, adding that sugar beet farmers will continue occupying the EBZ main offices, which they occupied in protest last Thursday, and that a delegation of farmers will be at the Vellidis conference centre where the prime minister was scheduled to make a speech.