[MGSA-L] Central bank jest at Greek expense denied

June Samaras june.samaras at gmail.com
Mon Dec 26 20:31:02 PST 2011


http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/world/2011/1223/1224309420689.html

The Irish Times - Friday, December 23, 2011
Central bank jest at Greek expense denied


PETER CLUSKEY in The Hague

IT HASN’T been the easiest of years for euro zone central bankers, who
even in the best of times are not known for their sense of humour. But
the Dutch central bank has led the way in terms of festive cheer this
week – by distributing Christmas hampers with a Greek theme to its
2,000 staff.

Employees at the bank’s headquarters in Amsterdam couldn’t believe
their eyes when they opened their beautifully packed baskets to find
not just feta cheese, vine leaves, wine, olive oil and vinegar, but a
colourful travel guide and a book on Greek mythology.

Lest there should be any suggestion that this immaculate combination
had been put together by chance, each hamper was accompanied by an
explanatory letter extolling the virtues of Hellenic culture,
traditions, nature and gastronomy.

A spokesman for the central bank denied the hampers were intended to
make fun of Greece’s crushing financial difficulties, which have
brought the country to the brink of economic and political collapse,
and left its banks facing an imminent liquidity crisis.

“Greece has been in the news a lot recently, and that – not the
economic crisis – was why we decided to show the country in a positive
light in our Christmas hampers,” he maintained, in a brief, somewhat
embarrassed, statement.

“It was intended to draw attention to a whole range of aspects of the
Greek way of life, without any reference to the economy. Last year the
hampers had a different national theme. It was . . . Dutch.”

The hamper saga has been greeted with amusement by the public, who
are, in general, more than a little sceptical about Greece’s ability
to turn around its affairs. In a recent survey, 51 per cent of Dutch
wanted Greece expelled from the euro; 58 per cent wanted to end
financial support; and 72 per cent believed Athens would never repay
its EU/International Monetary Fund loans.

The hamper cost €65 per employee to put together – a price critics say
is too expensive given the state of the economy and the fact taxpayers
will foot the bill.

-- 
June Samaras
2020 Old Station Rd
Streetsville,Ontario
Canada L5M 2V1
Tel : 905-542-1877
E-mail : june.samaras at gmail.com



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