◎魏國金
The cash-strapped Greek state is now looking to a new way of raising revenues--renting out its policemen at an hourly rate of 30 euros, with patrol cars going for 10 euros more.
財政拮据的希臘政府現在正指望新的籌錢辦法─以每小時30歐元的費率出租警察，加派巡邏車則多10歐元。
This will "pay for the cost of using police material and infrastructure, and allow to modernise them", the ministry of citizen protection which is in charge of the country’s security services said in a statement Sunday.
這將「用來支付使用警用工具與基本設施的費用，使這些設備得以現代化，」負責這個國家安全服務的公民保護部週日聲明指出。
Such police services used in "exceptional cases" such as in escorting the transportation of dangerous material or art works, were previously offered free of charge, said the ministry.
用於護送諸如危險物品或藝術品的「特殊情形」的警察服務，之前是免費的，該單位說。
But now, hourly fees of 200 euros will be charged for patrol boats and 1,500 euros for helicopters, according to Sunday newspaper Proto Thema. The ministry said it would only accept such rentals if they do not affect the security forces’ operational capacity.
不過現在，出動巡邏船每小時將索費200歐元，直升機則為1500歐元，根據週日報刊「領先消息報」說。公民保護部指出，只有在不影響保安警力的運作下才會接受這樣的租賃。
Greece has a total public debt of over 350 billion euros, and was twice forced to obtain bailout funds from the European Union and International Monetary Fund to stave off bankruptcy. （AFP）
希臘的公債總額超過3500億歐元，同時二度被迫接受歐盟與國際貨幣基金的紓困，以免於破產。（法新社）
新聞辭典
cash-strapped︰形容詞，經濟拮据的。例句︰Many cash-strapped families have been heavily hit by high prices growth.（許多經濟拮据的家庭受物價高漲嚴重衝擊。）
exceptional︰形容詞，例外的、罕見的、獨特的。例句︰There have been an exceptional number of rainy days this year.（今年的雨天特別多。）
stave off︰片語，擊退、防止、避開。例句︰All of us tried to stave off after-lunch drowsiness.（我們都設法驅除午飯後的睡意。 ）
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