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By John Kaponi The Greek government has been condemned by over 50 European TV and radio broadcasters for closing its state TV and radio broadcaster ERT. Described as an "undemocratic and unprofessional" move by the BBC's director general, Tony Hall, the closure of the state broadcaster has sent a chill wind throughout the media world. A petition signed by 50 European TV and radio broadcasters including the BBC has urged the Greek prime minister Antonis Samaras to "see sense" pointing out that "public service media and their independence from government lie at the heart of democratic societies". The other signatories included the heads of German, French, Swiss, Danish, Spanish and Italian TV. The Guardian has reported that "the petition was organised by the European Broadcasting Union which has been at the vanguard of attempts to persuade the Greeks to reverse their decision to close down ERT's TV and radio stations on Tuesday night." Comment: For the Greek Diaspora ERT was the station that provided important news and analysis on what was going on in the country that brought democracy to the world. The move by the Greek government to close the state broadcaster was it seems another knee-jerk reaction to a worsening economic environment, and pressure from Berlin to make cuts to public spending. The Greek state was correct to want reform and a more slim-line ERT, anyone who had experiences with the Greek state broadcaster would confess the waste and inefficiency were endemic. Closing ERT has reminded the students of history of the dark days when Greece was run by the colonels. What has Greece become? The markets were happy with the efforts of Greek prime minister Antonis Samaras to seek inward investment, but this has all been blown to shreds with renewed anger and concerns in Greece that the country's tentative coalition has collapsed and elections are on the horizon. Greece needs immediate confidence building measures amongst its own people, it does not need more austerity, but more measures to breathe life in Greece. Closing the state broadcaster, is ultimately undemocratic, wreck less and serves no one.
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